MP Mather in road safety call
Selby and Kippax MP Keir Mather has called for improvements to the region’s road safety.
News -
November 22, 2024
The creator of a sign that appeared in an empty building on Gowthorpe has sat down with the Selby Times to explain the message behind the slogan ‘Make Selby Great Again’.
The slogan, inspired by the US election earlier this month, is printed on a red baseball cap, and was initially met with mixed reactions from residents.
Local developer Richard Walker, who owns the building, explained: “I used the timing of the election and the publicity it generated to highlight the changes that I believe should be made in Selby.
“I did not have the sign created as an endorsement of Donald Trump.”
Richard furthered that the message behind the sign, cast on a derelict building, was meant to be “ironic”.
He said: “I believe many have missed the initial point that I was trying to make.
“Selby was once a thriving town, and my building is a prominent gateway to it, with a fantastic view of Selby Abbey.
“I submitted a planning application last year to have my building made into eight new homes, but delays in this process have meant that it currently remains derelict.
“It has been the subject of multiple break-ins and vandalism.”
Richard, a lifelong Selby resident, explained that his building is just one of a number in the town that remain out of use.
He said: “Our fantastic Abbey attracts many visitors each year, but instead of profiting from this and the many other draws to the town, those responsible for helping new and existing local businesses are failing us.
“Selby has two derelict banks and residents are seeing an explosion of empty town centre shops.
“Local schemes to encourage tourism in the town are also lacking - it’s such a shame.
“I grew up in Selby, and watching it decline over the years has been heartbreaking.”
Richard pointed to other historic market towns like Beverley, Howden and Malton, adding: “Other similar towns have plans and utilise their local attributes better to develop businesses within their town centres and encourage tourism.”
He said: “North Yorkshire Council’s resources are spread too thinly and Selby, at the far south of the council’s borders, is neglected.”
In response, North Yorkshire Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “Selby is at the heart of our ambitions to improve the lives of those who live and work in North Yorkshire, while also increasing the appeal of the county to visitors.
“The town is a key part of Visit North Yorkshire’s 10-year destination management plan, which sets out our vision for supporting the growth of the visitor economy across the entire county.
““Selby has a wealth of history and heritage with attractions such as the historic Selby Abbey and the beautiful gardens at nearby Stillingfleet.
“Locations such as these have been incorporated into our destination marketing activity and campaigns with positive results.
“In addition, we have also delivered specific activities for the Selby area to both encourage visitors and enable residents to discover something new, such as the Selby Area’s Residents Festival.
“Initiatives, such as the new Selby Restaurant Week which was staged in October, have also helped reinforce our commitment to the town’s future prosperity and a variety of activities which will build on this work are already on the calendar for 2025.
“The town is also a key beneficiary of the Government’s £38 million Transforming Cities programme, which aims to provide more accessible and affordable transport links, enhance economic and education opportunities and provide for happier and healthier communities.
“There is more to do, but we believe that through hard work and commitment, the future can be a bright one for Selby and North Yorkshire as a whole.”
Former leader of Selby District Council and North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, furthered that the council had invested “a great deal of time, efforts and resources” into attracting visitors and businesses to Selby.
He said: “Our ‘Vision for Selby’ is both ambitious and transformational and will set the town on the right path toward future prosperity.
“Through it we aim to improve travel to and within the town, create hundreds of new houses, provide greater employment opportunity for local people, revitalise the town centre and increase the town’s appeal to visitors.
“As a former leader of Selby District Council, I believe passionately in the town and its people, and I am confident that the hard work that is being put in by all concerned will be rewarded.”
(28-11-234 SU)
