Up to April 1974 Goole was in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Its local council was the Borough of Goole. The borough owned valued community assets such as the Market Hall, the parks, Victoria Pleasure Grounds and the swimming baths (although the latter were in need of an upgrade). West Riding Council gave Goole a fine new library in 1968.

The Conservative Heath Government changed that, and put Goole in the new county of Humberside. Goole was in the Borough of Boothferry, and was its HQ. Boothferry Borough Council owned important local assets like the market, the parks, the Victoria Pleasure Grounds and the swimming baths. East Riding Council continued to run the excellent library, and gave Goole a new leisure centre with swimming pool.

Then, the Conservative Government changed things again. Humberside was abolished, and Goole was put in with East Riding Council, which reputedly didn’t want it.

Under this new deal, Goole’s council was downgraded to Parish status, and everything was run from Beverley. While the Wesley Square development has benefitted Goole, there has been a really disturbing deterioration in the public realm.

Important local assets like the market hall, the parks, the Victoria Pleasure Grounds, the library and the leisure centre are owned by East Riding Council. Goole residents have to pay East Riding Council tax, and a precept for Goole Town Council. The result is that we pay East Riding Council who provide parks etc in other towns, and we pay a precept for Goole Town Council to manage the parks etc, and it would seem, pay “rent” to East Riding Council for what the town formerly owned (certainly the case with the market hall).

And the market hall - that had been expanded by Humberside County Council. East Riding Council demolished that to build Junction, but also sold off part of the site, so it seems rent has to be paid to a commercial company by residents for what Goole council formerly owned. To get from Wesley Square to Estcourt St car park you now have to go all the way round by the roundabout because the access via the rear door of the market hall has been closed.

There is a lot of comment about the state of pavements - and particularly tales of flag stones being taken up and carted off to Beverley for re-use there.

The bad deal that East Riding Council gives Goole residents amounts to financial abuse. It’s a rip off, and seems like taking residents for mugs. But anyone who expresses dissatisfaction is a “moaner”, according to the town’s MP, who is paid out of the public purse.

The Town Deal travesty is just the latest stage in East Riding Council’s poor treatment of Goole residents. That’s what many residents feel and say among themselves, regardless of the tidal wave of PR (which residents are having to pay for).