Preparatory work begins ahead of £7 million refurbishment of Victoria Pleasure Ground

The main contractor appointed to work on the project, Britcon of Scunthorpe, will be on site from early November. Work on the ambitious scheme is due to be completed late in 2025.

Town Clerk Brian Robertson said: “This major refurbishment project will not only secure the future of the VPG but also make it possible for more local teams, groups and organisations to use the facilities, including hundreds of local children who play for grassroots teams but currently have to travel outside Goole for training.

“Whilst it’s inevitable that there will be some disruption to users over the coming weeks and months, when planning the schedule of work we’ve made every possible effort to keep this to a minimum. We’d ask users of the VPG and the local community to bear with us as we work to deliver a state of the-art sports stadium for the town that we can all be proud of, and one that many more local people can enjoy.”

Owned by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and leased long-term to Goole Town Council, the historic venue is no longer fit for purpose and in dire need of investment if it’s to remain open. Fears for its long-term viability prompted the Goole Town Deal Board, together with Goole Town Council, to prioritise the site’s redevelopment as part of its strategic proposals to reinvigorate the town centre by allocating it a share of the town’s £25 million in Town Deal funding.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Town Deal process made some early funding available which had to be spent by a strict deadline. Some of this money was used to install energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) floodlighting at the Victoria Pleasure Ground, helping to reduce the running costs of the venue and making it more environmentally friendly. This new lighting will remain as part of the exciting redevelopment plans.

In addition to the Town Deal funding, the Football Foundation is contributing more than £2 million towards the exciting project, which involves the creation of a new, full-size, artificial 3G pitch; compact athletics offer; a state-of-the-art, two-storey pavilion, providing modern changing facilities and a cafe; and a 160-seat conference and hospitality suite capable of hosting sporting and corporate events, wedding celebrations and other social gatherings. The new layout will also significantly increase on-site parking.

The town’s semi-professional football club, Goole Associated Football Club, which plays in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, is based at the Victoria Pleasure Ground and, in recent years, has been joined by Goole Vikings Rugby Club, which is now a professional rugby league side competing in Betfred League One.

The Goole Town Deal Board developed a visionary business case for the Victoria Pleasure Ground, working in close conjunction with Goole Town Council and specialist consultants Steve Wells Associates, who bring their vast experience of developing top class sporting venues nationally to the project. Planning permission for this project was secured in 2023.

• For more information about the Victoria Pleasure Ground and the other projects funded by Goole Town Deal, visit www.gooletowndeal.co.uk.