News Stepping forward to get back to heyday
The Goole Renaissance organisation could take the town back to its heyday if people stayed patient and positive, Chamber of Commerce members heard on Monday.
Ian Cawsey, MP for Brigg and Goole and chairman of Goole Renaissance (GR), and Helen Hoult, GR manager, gave an update on plans to regenerate the town over the next few years.
Members were assured that although things appeared to be moving slowly, they were happening and Ms Hoult urged people to look at the website, www.goole-renaissance.co.uk
"Goole Renaissance is a long-term vision," said Mr Cawsey. "It's inevitable that things start with a lot of boring meetings but I do expect things to happen in 2007."
Members were shown a plan for 2007-2008, which included a total of 18 projects, five initiatives and three feasibility studies.
A Goole in Bloom competition, a Pasture Road retail committee and a 'business premises needs' studies are among these.
Ms Hoult said: "We're still hoping that Yorkshire Forward will be the core funder for the project," and stressed that the RG prospectus should be used as a negotiating tool to acquire money from other sources.
A prospectus is being printed locally and should be ready at the end of January.
Centreport was described by Mr Cawsey as the "biggest single driving opportunity" for the town.
"A huge amount of time has gone into getting that right," he said.
There has been much criticism of the development, in particular from Cllr Kester Dean, who believes that services will not be able to cope with the extra influx of jobs.
But Mr Cawsey said: "It would be naive to say we only need 500 jobs."
A thousand new jobs will be created from the Tesco distribution warehouse, ranging from managerial to factory positions.
"We have very high aspirations for Centreport but we have to ensure the people of Goole have the skills for it," he added.
It was pointed out that although Centreport might bring workers to the town, it was too far for them to walk into town to spend money during their lunch hour; the possibility of a bus service was mentioned.
On the subject of education, Mr Cawsey said the town needed to build on the success of Vermuyden School and improve post-16 education.
"We're bussing young people out of town [to Selby College, John Leggott and North Lindsey] to get good education elsewhere," he said.
Health services are also a priority. Mr Cawsey mentioned the brain unit which is to re-open at Goole Hospital, the extra community beds there and the new Bartholomew Health Centre.
Ms Hoult said there was a need to improve Goole's image and to stop making jokes about the town.
"We're all ambassadors for Goole," she said.
However, both she and Mr Cawsey stressed that things should be improved for the people of Goole first.
Ted Shaw, of Advance Roadways, again raised the subject of the level crossing and the traffic problems it causes, and asked whether money could be spent on resolving it.
He was told that it would have to be in the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Local Transport Plan for this to happen, and Carolyn Burgess suggested forming a committee to look at transport matters.
Concluding his presentation, Mr Cawsey said: "We can say to people that this is a town that is being transformed in the most radical way.
"This is the dawn of an era that will take us right back to the heyday."
Published on 18th January 2007 in News.
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