Disappointing news was received this week when Goole learnt that a bid for £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was unsuccessful. The funding bid, to HLF’s Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) programme, centred on Aire Street was designed to inject investment and renew interest to reinstate a cluster of buildings of significant architectural and heritage value that included repair, restoration of building features and bringing properties back into use. Goole Renaissance Manager Helen Hoult said “We are very disappointed with the outcome but we must not be deterred from pushing forwards with what we need to do next. The THI programme is a very competitive and over- subscribed funding source so we recognised from the start that the chances of success may be limited. In June we will be attending a meeting with Heritage Lottery to discuss the bid and explore options for re-applying’. Steve Devey, Team Leader for Conservation, Landscape & Archaeology explained that “Goole retains much of its Victorian splendour, but this has in some places been neglected in favour of the town’s industrial and commercial role as an inland port. This is particularly evident in the Aire Street area. Goole’s fascinating contrasts between town, industry, water…

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