The photo is the gate to the way from Wesley Square and Junction past the back of the market hall to Estcourt St. It is closed to the public and has been some time.

The market hall, this piece of land, and the former new market hall (demolished to make way for Junction) used to be owned by Goole Town Council, which became Goole Borough Council and then was subsumed into Boothferry Borough Council. When East Riding Council was created by the Major Govt in the mid 90s, the assets formerly owned by Goole Council (and managed by Goole Councillors), were handed over to East Riding Council.

Goole people now had to pay council tax to East Riding Council, plus a precept for Goole Town Council (in effect a Parish Council) to manage some assets, such as parks. East Riding Council charged Goole Town Council rent (latterly about £50k a year apparently) to hold markets in the two market halls, so Goole Town Council had to charge stallholders enough to cover the rent to East Riding Council, plus heating, staff etc.

Then East Riding Council had the newer market hall demolished. Junction was put up in its place, managed by Goole Town Council. However, the Town Council has to pay rent to use Junction to a company, as East Riding Council sold off the land on which Junction stands, along with the land behind the market hall.

Looking at how East Riding Council treats the residents of Goole, it is hard not to conclude that it is a confidence trick on Goole residents which amounts to financial abuse. Goole residents pay Council Tax. Residents in other towns get their parks from East Riding Council out of Council Tax. Goole residents have to a precept on top of Council Tax for the parks and other facilities. Goole Town Council has to pay rent for Junction. Residents had to pay rent for the two market halls, and then one, when it was actually used as a market. Now residents are not allowed into what the residents used to own through their town and borough council. Nor are they allowed to walk by the convenient route to Estcourt Street car park.

Under the Town Deal scheme, with the East Riding Council appointed board of those who will do as it wants, £4 million of the Town’s money has been allocated to the East Riding Council owned market hall. What is that money being spent on that could cost £4 million many residents are asking. Money has been allocated to the East Riding owned leisure centre, now delayed by “unexpected issues”. Residents are startled issues with the building could take the authority that owns and manages it by surprise.

Confidence tricks, financial abuse and laughing at Goole residents, taking us for fools, what springs to mind for many residents when they think of East Riding Council and much of the Town Deal.

The Hopper bus, one of the few Town Deal projects that has been delivered after four and a quarter years seems to be well used though. A few breadcrumbs to keep residents hoping…classic abuser behaviour?