A hundred and seventy six years ago the first railway opened into Goole. This was the route from Wakefield, subsequently taken over by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company. That company built the locomotives that ran to and from Goole, and which were kept at Goole engine shed (the site of which is now part of the wonderful Oakhill Nature Reserve), at its works in Horwich, near Bolton. Horwich works eventually closed in 1983. The picture shows the remains of the former marshalling yard for the docks, from the bypass.

Much of the site of that works is being turned over to housing developments. Shortages of affordable housing, to buy, and to rent, is causing much hardship in the UK, so housing development is to be welcomed. However, Horwich has more in common today with Goole than a shared railway heritage. The residents of both towns are experiencing the same difficulties caused by an increase in population not being matched by an increase in GPs, medical services, schools etc. Huge pressures have been put on already stretched services.

All the PR, photo and filming opportunities focus on the Little Beverley part of Goole, the Junction 36 development. Business rates go 50% to central Govt for their own coffers. The other 50% is collected by central Government, and then redistributed in grants (so local authorities have to in effect beg for the money). There were promised in 2020 to give business rates income to local authorities, but nothing has happened.  Goole continues to get a very poor deal (for information on business rates see: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/finance-and-business-rates/local-taxation-council-tax-and-business-rates#:~:text=Currently%20local%20government%2C%20collectively%20retains,fund%20grants%20to%20local%20authorities.)

Businesses make their profits. The more established parts of Goole are being left to decline - money is not being invested out of all the new business which has come to Goole into the older parts to keep them in good order, and ensure that services are able to meet demand from the existing population, let alone the new people who are being brought in.

Drawing attention to that is dismissed by those are are fulfilling their own ambitions and objectives as “negative” and “moaning”. Wanting better for Goole and its residents is aspiration and ambition, not moaning.

Thanks to everyone who has signed so far. Keep talking, keep sharing, keep moaning, keep signing!