Interesting article on the “Yorkshire Live” news website about Goole (https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/life-forgotten-yorkshire-town-desperate-29357781).

This article looks at the centre of town, and has photos taken in the pedestrianised part of Boothferry Road, rather than the Junction 36 showcase which features in Govt, East Riding Council and Town Deal driven articles. 

Very interesting is that those interviews are ordinary Goole citizens. They talk of the challenges facing the established part of town - lack of investment over a long period of time and low paid work.

What rarely seems to be covered is the sense of community, and what Goole people do for themselves - Picnic in the Park, a recent event that springs to mind.

I know there are people who would prefer traffic to be allowed along the pedestrianised part of Boothferry Rd again, and others (myself included) who like having a traffic free part of town. Those diverging views have to co-exist, hopefullly good naturedly. An obvious way forward would be to hold a genuine (not staged and pre-determined outcome) referendum to establish what the majority view is.

Meanwhile, that pedestrianised part of the town does represent an opportunity. There used to be events such as “Beach Days” which were fun, feelgood and drew people into the town centre. They could be reintroduced and built upon. How about public performances - say by Castaway? Outdoor theatre performances? Demos by the Boxing Club and other sports groups? Regular events on a Saturday through the summer, and through the winter too.

It would take work, there would be costs, but the effort and costs would be an investment in drawing people into the town centre, which would be good for the shops, and would strengthen the sense of community and togetherness.

Very noticeable in the article was the lack of the usual politicians and public figures showing off their latest outfits and most beaming smiles. The article says at the end “East Riding Council was approached for comment” but no comment seems to have been forthcoming. Presumably because East Riding Council couldn’t control what was published in the article. You can’t help concluding from this that the coverage we so often see in the press is placed by publicly funded PR professionals on behalf of East Riding Council to present Junction 36 and the Town Deal as solely representative of Goole to benefit East Riding Council and those making money out of it all. It strengthens the argument that the established part of Goole is being abandoned to decline while all investment goes into Junction 36.

The Goole Times recently announced that the Hub project - the redevelopment of the leisure centre with en-suite moving of the library from the town centre that no library user wants - has been delayed. Unusual to see the Goole Times working itself up to say anything critical these days about East Riding Council’s doings. A letter in the paper (“What’s the Rub with the Hub?”) pointed out that Town Deal Board minutes said the project was on track shortly before the delay was announced (the draft minutes from the May meeting can be seen here): https://www.gooletowndeal.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DRAFT-Goole-Town-Deal-Board-Minutes-10-05-2024.pdf. Others have commented elsewhere that the leisure centre was presumably properly maintained, so how could cited issues with the structure be a surprise?

The Town Deal Board minutes, like its website, are certainly a masterpiece of presentation, talking a good game. Among the assertions in the minutes is that there has been extensive public consultation on the Victoria Pleasure Grounds project. East Riding Council obviously wants to give that impression, but many people, not least those who live close to Victoria Pleasure Grounds, feel that the consultations were a travesty and a sham with no intention whatsoever of doing anything other than exactly what East Riding Council wants - eg getting rid of the 400m running track. To date there has been no direct consultation still with anyone living in the area round the VPG on the impact on residents’ lives…

Keep talking, keep sharing!