• Airmyn
• Asselby
• Barlby
• Barmby on the Marsh
• Blacktoft
• Bubwith
• Carlton
• Cowick
• Drax
• Elvington
• Foggathorpe
• Gilberdyke
• Goole
• Gowdall
• Great Heck
• Hemingbrough
• Holme on Spalding Moor
• Hook
• Howden
• Kilpin
• Market Weighton
• Moorends
• Newport
• North Cave
• North Duffield
• Rawcliffe
• Reedness
• Sandholme
• Seaton Ross
• Selby
• Snaith
• Spaldington
• Swinefleet
• Thorne
• Wheldrake
• Wressle

GOOLE 2028

Local business owners, residents and council officers attended last week's Goole 2028 meeting to discuss their ambitions and aspirations to develop Goole over the next 20 years.

Looking towards the future, those present heard how new ventures in the town could help turn Goole into the economic hub of the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Speaking at the meeting Alan Menzies, director of planning and economic regeneration for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, stated that a master plan of things to address in Goole needed to be established.

He praised the regeneration work which had already been done: "There is clear evidence that over recent years Goole has moved on in a positive way. A lot of housing renewal work has been done on the streets of Goole and there is still a lot of work which needs to be done," he said. "Part of the solution is enhancing public open space and residential areas so people can be proud of where they live.

"It is important that anywhere that needs environmental improvement gets access to funds for it. We need to move any eyesores on as they do not send out the correct message.

"If we want Goole to move on then we must keep at it and stay with this regeneration."

Sarah Pearson, head of the Humber division for Yorkshire Forward, used the meeting to announce that Goole is now listed on their Renaissance Towns and Cities Programme. This means for the next 16 to 20 years the town will be a high priority for Yorkshire Forward, a regional development agency funded by the central Government, who will commit to long-term strategic development frameworks to deliver first-class places to live, work and visit in Goole.

Ms Pearson reported that out of the £300m invested by the Government, £28m per year had been spent in the Humber region, adding: "A lot of regional money has been invested already in the area and you can see big improvements.

"More investment has gone into Goole than into Hull City Centre and these future economic developments for the town will create jobs and improve the environment."

Regarding future work in Goole, Ms Pearson urged businesses to make the most out of the regional resources available to ensure Goole gets its share of the regional cake. "There is lots of support available, we need to capture it to help Goole grow," she said.

"If we maximise on the support and grow our economy then we can make Goole the place people think of first.

"We need to improve Goole's reputation, bring the community together and sell it as a new modern town that people want to visit."

Nigel Pearson, chief executive of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, added: "As part of a 20-year transformation we need to tackle deep-rooted social problems such as housing conditions and health and equalities and we need to tackle them as a partnership."

During his presentation Mr Menzies also praised the recent Capitol Park development at Junction 36, which he said had made a significant difference to Goole and created a vast amount of employment opportunities and raised the aspirations of local people.

Capitol Park has had and continues to have a major impact on Goole opening up land for future developments which will create exciting business and employment opportunities for the town, he said.

Guest speaker Andrew Gent of Capitol Park said: "We want to raise the external profile of Goole and get it recognised as a location.

"As the Capitol Park development grows opportunities will arise in the area."

The Junction 36 development is set to provide sustainable employment for people in Goole over the coming years, creating around 6,500 jobs.

"The development will create a significant number of jobs which will lead to additional spending in the area, as there will be more people with wages to spend in Goole," he said.

"We want to prevent people growing up and leaving Goole to get a job elsewhere," added Mr Gent.

The junction 36 development is one of the most important developments for Goole over the next 20 years, mixing distribution, manufacturing, offices and hotel and leisure facilities on the site.

Of Capitol Park's role in the future of Goole Mr Menzies said: "We are hoping to get a hotel investment in the area in the future. This is on the back of junction 36 and could not be done without it. This will then lead to a more diverse food and drink offering."

Another future development for Goole mentioned at the meeting was the £2.3m Arts and Civic Centre, which is receiving funding from Yorkshire Forward. Mr Menzies commended the new entertainment and arts building as a major move forward for culture and entertainment in the town.

Ian Kelly, chief Executive of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce was at the Goole 2028 and said: "Tributes need to be paid to East Riding of Yorkshire Council for creating the infrastructure for the investment and development seen. I think now entering this phase and moving forward we need to look at softer things to help entrepreneurs and business people move forward.'

Students from Vermuyden School, which has recently received the largest investment made by the council for a educational facility to demolish and rebuilt it as a new state of the art school, also attended the meeting to give their ideas on how to improve Goole.

The students presented ideas for a 'Scrap Store', which is a recycling campaign aiming to turn Goole into a sustainable environment and help save our planet, and 'Aqua Beta Delta', which gives young people an input into planning and gives youths a voice about what goes on in the town.

The importance of the youths involvement in the meeting was highlighted by Mr Menzies, who said: "These are the people who we will hand the baton on to, the next team to push on businesses. In 20 years' time they will be working in or running local businesses."

Of the hard work that needs to be done over next 20 years Mr Menzies added: "We have to make the community feel like things are not just being done to them but to benefit them. We need to make the most out of opportunities. I don't want to be siting in future talking about the same problems. Let's show everyone we can do it."

Published on 31st July 2008 in News.

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