The people of Castleford, their local council and other agencies and organisations with an interest in the town constantly discuss how it should and could become a better place.
Regular meetings have taken place in the town, supported or held by organisations like Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (the town's administrative Council), English Partnerships (the national regeneration agency with special responsibility for improving coalfields areas), Yorkshire Forward (the Regional Development Agency), Eastern Wakefield Primary Care Trust, Groundwork Wakefield (a local environmental charity) and The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (a charity with special responsibility for former coalfield areas).
All of these organisations have strategies and plans in place devoted to the long-term improvement of the town, its people and the surrounding area and are constantly supporting or implementing projects that fit their plans.
In July 2003, with the support of these agencies, The Castleford Project ran a series of public meetings and events in the town to find out what projects and issues were of concern to local people that fit in with these longer-term plans but had yet to either happen or the community felt had not been sufficiently addressed. Over a thousand people took part and identified priority projects that they feel are important to the future of the town, projects that also speak to the experience of people living in towns and cities across the UK. As a result, The Project has adopted the following projects:
Check up on the progress so far >>
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River Crossing
Castleford was once on the path of an important Roman Road. The Road forded across the River Aire. Today there is only one point in the town in which people can cross the River. People told us that they wanted a new river crossing – located either on the site of the Roman ford or closer to the existing road bridge – that would allow access on foot and cycle between the town, its shopping and schools and communities and areas of natural beauty and historic importance to the North. |
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Riverside
The only 'chocolate box' view of Castleford is of a Victorian flour mill and an adjacent weir on the River Aire. Unfortunately, it is bordered by a large area of overgrown foliage and piles of rubbish on the river's edge – a nesting ground for vermin and shopping trolleys. People want this area cleaned up and opened to use by the public. |
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‘Carlton Street’
At the centre of the town is a pedestrianised High Street that's bordered by charity and 'pound' shops. Locals wanted it to be turned in to a better, brighter and inspirational town square. |
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The Green, Ferry Fryston
The Green is a strip of parkland in one of the most deprived parts of the town and Wakefield District. Lack of investment and anti-social behaviour has turned the place in to a derelict landscape. The Friends of the Green, a new group formed after an event run by The Castleford Project, wanted to see the area become a safe, well-designed public space. |
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Cutsyke Adventure Park
Cutsyke is an area in the town with a strong and motivated community who want to see more amenities for young people in their neighbourhood. The Cutsyke Community Group identified a piece of land in the area that they wanted to become the location of an Adventure Playpark and the future site of a future community centre. |
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Wilson Street Area
The Wilson Street area is to the west of the town centre, close to the main shopping district. People wanted to see the area made safe from speeding cars and petty crime and something done with sites left redundant by selective demolition of terraced housing. After meetings run by The Castleford Project, The Wilson Street Community Triangle formed: a residents group dedicated to improving the neighbourhood. |
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New Fryston
New Fryston was once the site of an important local colliery. After the reclamation of the pit and demolition of rows of housing, the area survives as a village of historic mining terraces and wild parkland but with insufficient numbers to sustain some of the basic amenities of life, such as a pub, community centre and newsagents. National regeneration agency English Partnerships identified a scheme to improve the village green in a way that supports the long-term future hopes and needs of local people.
Check up on the progress so far >> |
