Readers respond to Sam Smith's brewery proposals for North Yorkshire town

The 'flagship' Angel and White Horse Inn, which re-opened recently. (Image: PA)

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Search the Public Notice Portal A report that highlighted how Samuel Smith’s Brewery aimed to renovate its properties in Tadcaster town centre brought much response, with many readers lamenting how once-thriving Tadcaster has declined in recent decades.

At a meeting of Tadcaster Town Council last week, Cllr Kirsty Poskitt read out a letter from the brewery which updated and outlined its plans for the town.

Cllr Poskitt, who represents Tadcaster on North Yorkshire Council, spoke of how Vicarage Green (by the memorial) would be opened to the public, with seating, creating a usable green space for the town.

She raised the prospect of a housing development off Station Road for 101 homes that would help fund the renovation of derelict buildings in the town centre.

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  Cllr Kirsty Poskitt, who represents Tadcaster on North Yorkshire Council.

(Image: Facebook)

Cllr Poskitt posted on social media: “There was a commitment to getting those buildings back into use.”

She also said: “It's important to note that all of these things have been in place for a considerable amount of time, they were always the intentions of Mr (Humphrey) Smith so the brewery will continue to honour his legacy.”

And she added: “Tadcaster has a bright future ahead of it, and whilst all changes take time, I feel really hopeful about what’s to come.”

Our readers were greatly encouraged by this.

One said, enthusiastically: “Bring it on! Footfall brings spending, business does well, brings jobs, brings vibrancy and more improvements. Renovation and the empty properties must be sorted, but more housing the merrier :)! NIMBYism will just prolong the town’s stagnation.”

Another said: “I always feel that Tadcaster’s location should mean it is a thriving town but it looks like a tumbleweed zone currently. Hopefully, it can now be revived and become a bustling hub again.”

Indeed, one reader recalled: “Tadcaster used to be booming when I was little. I used to spend summer hols with grandparents there. It will be lovely to see it like that again.”

Another agreed: “Great news, it’s declined over the last 20 years, more every year. Let’s hope councils and relevant departments / bodies help regenerate Tadcaster which was once a vibrant town.”

The Old Brewery in Bridge Street, Tadcaster.

(Image: Darren Greenwood)

As did this reader: “Tadcaster was a place people used to spend a day and their money. Get it back to its former glory.”

Whilst this one said of Tadcaster: “Fallen way behind Boston Spa which used to be in the shadow of Tadcaster as a thriving market town. Hope it can be restored to its former glory and thrive!”

And one said they called for a walk down the river and a trip to Costa, but the coffee shop had gone.

They lamented: “Currently, there’s no need to visit Tad. High Street looks so sad and neglected.”

However, one sounded optimism about the future, saying: “Time to invest in Tadcaster, the town centre looks like a bomb site now, but in five years….”

But a reader cautioned: “I would want to see a detailed commitment from the brewery before I rejoiced this news. I doubt they have any idea about the timescale or cost.

“Let's hope I am wrong and Kirsty is given a detailed commitment very soon.”