Back in 2019, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, as it’s now known, launched a Town Fund to encourage economic regeneration and deliver vital infrastructure in towns across the UK, with the aim of bringing them back to life. In response to this, Goole submitted an ambitious Town Investment Plan, setting out a series of deliverable objectives aimed at stimulating long-term ec
onomic growth. The plan is bespoke and unique to Goole, evaluating the town’s strengths and resources, as well as the complexities and challenges it faces. In June 2021, we received confirmation from the Government that Goole was one of 101 towns nationally to secure a share of the Town Deal funding, having been allocated £25 million. The Goole Town Deal Board includes Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy and a wide variety of public, private and voluntary sector organisations with a shared commitment to regenerating Goole and growing its economy. They include East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Goole Town Council; Goole Civic Society; the Environment Agency; Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership; Hull and East Yorkshire SMILE Foundation; major employers and other local businesses. Having produced the Town Investment Plan, the Board is now responsible for ensuring that the strategic vision for the town is clear and capable of achieving its objectives within the timescales specified by the Government. The Town Investment Plan identified a series of projects that would help to achieve the Board’s objectives for Goole and had to submit a business case to the Government for each one. The Board sees these projects as individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that will come together to have a transformative effect on the town centre. As the delivery phase begins, the many organisations involved will be identifying opportunities for local people, business owners and other stakeholders to be involved and informed every step of the way. There will be plenty of opportunity for local people to help shape key aspects of each of the projects as they develop through a series of community engagement events and activities.
