Congratulations on opening a long overdue discussion on this topic. The problem is not just the loss of important buildings but also the way you treat the ones you've got. The prime example being the clock tower - are those hideous cameras still perched on top?
ps I used to live in Burlington Crescent on the site of Eastgate flats. The flats as originally built were pretty awful but whoever was responsible for the makeover some years ago deserves credit as I think they made a reasonable job considering what they have to work with.

I understand the George public house is the next under threat. It's owners are seeking planning permission for an apartment block.
Ashfield backing onto the river bank is being converted into flats, with additional building on the lawns. the owners set off by cutting down the blue cedar that had been there for years as soon as they bought it.
No one seems to object in Goole when these things happen. Things slip through the net and have no protection, then it's too late. The tree should have had a preservation order, the New Bridge should have been listed.

I remember one year in the 1960's that was designated as, European Architectural Heritage Year. Goole marked this occasion by destroying its only Georgian terrace, East Parade. I also remember that it was possible, then, to walk across the lock gates to Old Goole. Just before arriving at the 'Bottom House', I remember passing two early Victorian cottages on Quay Street/Bury Street. I was always disappointed as a child, that Betsy Trotwood or Mr.Pickwick were not in the garden of these picture perfect dwellings. To complete the 'hat trick' of destruction by Associated British Ports and its predecessors, I must, of course mention the total obliteration of Ouse Street. This was the heart of the unique company town that was
Goole. Ouse Street was a wide street of low early Victorian, possibly Georgian houses. It was ideal for the location of the original Goole market, where my ancestors had a stall selling home-made Ginger Beer. Ouse Street included the old 'lock-up' and the 'Crown', with its unique spitoon. which was a trough that ran the full length of the bar. I was there at the last night of the 'Crown' and also the 'Steam Packet'. I knew that something was dying even if 'Goole' couldn't give a damn. Every time I enjoyed a pint in the bar of the Royal or the Lowther, I would picture someone there with me. Having a drink before or after a performance. One of the many who entertained the good people of Goole, at the neighbouring Music Hall, before they went onto bigger audiences. Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel to name but two. Cheers Stan, Cheers Charlie. Goole was a nice place once. HONEST !.

Mick, I enjoyed reading your comments. It depresses me so much what is happening/has happened to the town in architectural and townscape terms. Because I've not lived in Goole since 1967 I am open to the criticism that what happens there now is none of my business. But I do retain a strong affection for the place, which I still visit from time to time. It puzzles me that the town does not seem to have any kind of Conservation Group or Amenity Society (like many other historic towns) that could do some constructive lobbying of the planners and property owners. Maybe you have more pressing problems to worry about? If such an association did exist I would be happy to offer what limited talents I posses (as an ex conservation planner), albeit from a distance.

Thanks Bill.
It doesn't surprise me that there is no conservation group or society in Goole. Aided by local politicians, developers have been able to destroy the town with the complete compliance of any and every local authority Goole has ever had. The latest is the proposed destruction of the 'Old George', it used to be called the George IV. Luckily for the current owners, the name was changed, this makes it easier to destroy a historic building, by hiding it's true age. This is/ sorry was the pub where my grandfather met my grandmother. My grandfather was a seaman on many local ships. My mother used to love telling the story of how her mother screamed when she thought she had discovered a body in a linen drawer/cupboard in the 'George', but this turned out to be a regular who had been placed there to 'sleep it off'.
We must thank local developers/politicians for grossly denying what history we had. There aim must have been to turn Goole into a soulless dormitory town. A kind a of 'mini-Doncaster'. Congratulations !. You won !.

As a member of Howden Civic Society I seem to remember reference to a Goole Civic Society which would have existed pre 1980s but may have been short lived. The Civic Trust in London may be able to confirm this.

There is a Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies which is keen to support new groups and has been active on this over the last year or so. See http://www.yhacs.org.uk/ and look under Projects.
There will be a Civic Societies week again this 21-29 June. I am sure both YHACS and Howden CS would be willing to help get a Goole group going but the initial interest has to come from the town.

Meanwhile, we always welcome visitors to our meetings, on the first Wednesday of the month at the Masonic Lodge, Selby Road, Howden. 7.30 pm There is usually a speaker and, although we try to ensure that they have a particular relevance to Howden residents, many of the topics are of general interest.

See www.howdencivicsociety.org.uk

Its always been the same in Goole. No consultation with the people of Goole about buildings. I remember being so upset when they pulled down the Maternity Home in Goole where both my children had been born. Always remembering my Mum saying that when the light is on in the big window at the front of the building that another baby was being born in Goole.
They built another more modern building but not for Maternity purposes.
Now I hear after only a few short years that that building or service is going to be closed.
I know we have to move with the times but these buildings are our heritage which once pulled down are lost forever.

Goole need's a cinima,bowling,kfc,shopping center for teenagers to use as well as adults.They moan when we loiter and doss and drink beer underage,we do this as thiere is nothing for us to do.

Goole Gas Works - I wonder if there are any photographs of the old gasworks still in existence? As a schoolboy we were taken round the old Gasworks and watched as one of the coke ovens was discharged after the gas and volatiles had been baked out of the coal loaded into it. We then followed the route of the gas through the plant and into the gasholder.
I think this was as part of our chemistry course but it was also relevant to the engineering part of our metalwork course as well.
Its quite sad to see the site of the gasworks now with all the industrial heritage obliterated.

What is the latest news on the Lowther? Did the proposed refurbishment go ahead?

I understand work on the lowther stopped due to cash flow I guess the recession. I remember a few years ago the traders in the Arcade fitted gates and locked them about 6pm. This was not allowed due to its status as a right of way they eventually allowed the gates to be locked at 10pm.the present refurbishment has been going on for ages now with this right of way closed.However I have noticed some pensioners take the short cut thro Weatherspoons bar to catch the bus outside Lidl supermarket.

Is Goole in peril? I don't think so, I've lived in Goole now since
2000, just as the floods were devastating Selby and Gowdall etc. Had it not been for the flood barriers completed a couple of months previous, the house I had bought may well have been under water.This led me to believe that Goole was foremost within the surounding area at security and advancement of local wellbeing of it's residents and properties.
I still live in Goole and during my relatively short time here have seen many changes, both cultural and material.
Buildings are an issue of course, and no-one likes to see our national heritage obliterated,however full restoration is not always viable and sometimes alternative usage or even demolishion (as far as listings allow) is neccessary.
I understand that Goole is a very tight knit community with lots
of family history,a lot that could be traced back to the 1800's
given time
However I believe the people of Goole are some of the most receptive and welcoming in Britain and do not differenciate progress from nostalgia.
We are in the middle of a vast recession and still Goole is moving
ahead. Good for Goole I say.
Cheers all.

Well Bob I really wish I could share your optimism. But it seems to me that development in Goole has rarely, if ever, taken account of the value or character of the existing buildings and townscape. Buildings of architectural interest have been destroyed or neglected or repaired in a cheap and inappropriate way. New buildings are, on the whole ugly, utilitarian and lacking in imagination. I blame the apathy of the residents and councillors and possibly, especially in the past, the absence of any suitably qualified professionals within the council. As I left Goole many years ago I own up to having done nothing to remedy this situation (apart from an unsuccessful attempt to get those hideous cameras off the clock tower!). Best wishes.

Haven't read earlier comments, but readers should know CPO for Richard Cooper Street and Phoenix Street properties now issued, objections have to be submitted before some daft date in January.
ERYC, the local authority that is, always waits for folks to go away or have other things on their minds, before it decides these deadlines.

The artist's impression is, of course, need I say, just that - a dolly sort of gated estate but it combines homes for 4 bedded, 2 car drivers, and also the "affordable" housing usually occupied by the less needy.
Some of the comments submitted on this planning application actually spelled it out - they said it would be bringing in anti-social tenants to live alongside the better situated who could afford to live there!

Well, that's life for you in this neck of the woods. We have all sorts. Labour govt. policy. Blame the MP who stays clean.

If folks don't want such developments, want the Town of Goole, the old place we all know, to survive, where your neighbours are part and parcel of your background, or prepared to be so, then DO SOMETHING - my experience is that folks just sit back and nothing changes.

And while I am at it, readers ought to be told that Goole Times online is a dead duck, been ailing for ages. Supposed to be under maintenance, but strikes me it has been killed off because of poor sales of the real edition.
Perhaps it needs Goole on the Web emergency attention!

Re 'maintenance message' on Goole Times website : Note their dreadful spelling errors - doesn't say much for a once fine newspaper!

I see they've corrected the spelling mistakes but still no sign of the Goole Times online. Which is a shame.

We had our wedding reception at the now demolished New Potter Grange back in 1976. I would never have believed that it would get demolished.

I see there is a proposal under consideration to close the Goole Courthouse. Maybe this is a real case to consider under the heading of Goole in Peril and even perhaps save the court?

The market has gone too, i would specualte to accomadate more ERYC buildings.
Walkers bingo has now gone.

Seems the CCTV in Aire St and a few others have gone (which are high risk areas) yet others stay intact (clock tower)

The place really has no future unless you either... Drink, Use drugs, work for ERYC.

people i the place want more business, sadly the only things that survive are charity shops / netto / police etc

I would put my last penny on the fact, soon some trains will pass straight through rather than stoppping.

having had an interest in the history of my place of birth, when ask to help with information about a certain area in goole that needed to be cleaned, up i volunteered to worked with a council employee from Beverley who was struggling to get people onboard she was not getting any backing from our local councilers, so, i attended a meeting at kingsway school to give her support ,this was 2005, Madaline Bell briefly mentioned the the plans they were coming up with for rc street ph street, and our cleaning up project was discussed and we got the nod of approval ,i went to two more meetings after that and our local represenatives in all three meetings, one claimed to have got cost cutters to put a bin out side the shop it must have took all of five minutes ,the other was only interested in what went on down the street where they lived, the campaign to clean up the area was slowly being pushed aside, i tried to get more people in the shufflton area to back us up but none was interested, i had to give it up because i had been diagnosed as having the big C, and the employee from Beverly who i had backed suddenly informed me the she was going to work at wales but i think there was more to it than that out of the whole shufflton area only one resident came with me to the meetings,when i explained why they should go there reply was its just a rumour if more had taken a better veiw than im alright jack, and i have not got time, and made time to attend the meetings who knows things could have been totaly different, when these things are aired dont take it for granted they are rumours, get in early and in numbers dont let these bureaucrats walk all over you ,if you dont they will take your soul and trample on it

I see (from their website) that the Lowther has finally been restored and reopened. Nice to have some good news, hope it's a success. Look forward to having a drink there when I'm next up that way.