News

MAJOR roofing works will take place at Penistone Town Hall next month.The scheme is part of the council’s Principals Towns and Local Centres programme.The works, which are programmed to be completed by the end of the year, will help to future-proof this much-loved and historic building.A council spokesperson said: “There will be temporary effects on the adjacent car park, including reduced capacity and the suspension of the usual one-way...

A FUNDRAISING dog show called Collie Chaos will be held in Wath next month.The event will take place at Wath Hall and begin at 10.30am on Saturday, August 24.Sheila Yerrell, from the Collie Rescue Rough and Smooth charity, said: “I have been with the charity for the past seven years.“On August 24 in the grounds of Wath Hall will be my third Collie Chaos, raising much-needed funds for rescue....

PLANS to turn a Dodworth property into a children’s home for two kids have been submitted to the council.If approved, work to convert the home on Stainborough Road will take place.A report has confirmed that the two children will be of no risk to the community and instead the home will benefit the youngsters moving forward.It said: “The care leavers or looked after children will most likely attend college...

BERNESLAI Homes and partners have been lending a helping hand to the Autism Allotments project in Thurnscoe. As part of its employer supported volunteering (ESV) programme – ‘Can Do Crew’, more than 30 volunteer colleagues have given their time and skills to help with the community project that was founded by local couple Michael and Paul Atwal-Brice.The couple, whose oldest twin sons are autistic and have epilepsy and learning difficulties, wanted to create...

A LOCAL swim school has set the target of providing 200 children free lessons and hot meals over the course of the next year.Sprint Swim Academy in Mapplewell has teamed up with three companies from the renewable heating industry to provide this charitable push.Working alongside Sprint Renewables, the Renewables Warehouse and Vaillant, the swim school will offer eligible children from across the borough swimming lessons, a hot meal, and refreshments for...

MORE than £100,000 is set to be spent on improving play areas and parks in the Worsbrough ward over the coming months.The section 106 panel signed off on £110,804 worth of funding at a meeting recently.Worsbrough Dale Park will receive almost £50,000 to renew the surfacing, repainting play equipment and new panel games.Ward Green Rec will received £43,000 worth of work to refurbish the site.Whilst Highstone Lane’s...

THE former Conservative MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge has said she is going to step away from politics after losing her seat at the general election - and is a new host on GB News.Miriam Cates was elected as the MP for the area in 2019 and served in the constituency for five years.She was ousted from her seat by new Labour MP Dr Marie Tidball earlier this month - and...

THE next steps to transform the Alhambra Shopping Centre into a town centre health hub will be discussed by councillors later this year.The Health on the High Street initiative could bring more than 100,000 visits a year to the shopping centre instead of Barnsley Hospital.Although the Alhambra’s retail element will remain on the ground level, it is understood changes to its interior layout will be made after an agreement was struck...

A CUDWORTH primary school has been graded ‘good’ by Ofsted following its latest inspection.Churchfield Primary School, based on Snydale Road, currently has 410 pupils on its roll and is under the wing of the Waterton Academy Trust.The inspection, which was held in June, was the first the school had received since its conversion into an academy.A report states: “Churchfield Primary School is at the heart of the local community....

TWO parks in Wombwell are set to be upgraded after the council signed off on new investment worth more than £100,000.The Section 106 panel, which allocates funding to community projects financed from developer contributions on housing sites, has approved projects to upgrade play facilities at the Everill Close and Summer Lane public parks and open spaces.The latter will receive £40,000 worth of improvements whilst Everill Close will receive £70,000.Planned...

A NUMBER of Barnsley roads will be closed on one day in September to make way for the return of this year’s Tour of Britain.It is the first time the cycling race will return to South Yorkshire in almost 20 years which will see stage three – on Thursday September 5 – head from Sheffield to Barnsley, taking in Rotherham and Doncaster along the route.County Way will be closed from 6pm...

THE Soul Train will be pulling into Barnsley next week.After selling over one million concert tickets for The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show, Wayne Kennedy has returned to his teenage roots and love of soul, rhythm and blues music by producing a brand new theatrical production which emphasises fun and great songs.The night of soulful music and dancing will be at the Barnsley Metrodome next Friday, featuring fan favourite songs and...

THE man at the heart of making cricket more accessible in Yorkshire has now turned to kurling - and he’s even managed to get the Mayor of Barnsley involved.Mac McKechnie, of Monk Bretton, came up with the idea of walking cricket in late 2018 after taking part in a walking football session at Barnsley’s U3A group.He stepped down from walking cricket earlier this year and has started his latest passion, ‘new...

THE South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is urging residents to apply for their Zoom passes for the upcoming year – and they’re set to pilot free public transport for young people.Zoom under 16 and Zoom 16-18 concessionary travel passes provide proof of eligibility to travel for a discounted single journey fare of £1 on bus and tram, and half fare on Northern trains in South Yorkshire.South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said:...

LOCAL children had the chance to take part in bike and scooter sessions this week – and they’ll be taking place throughout the summer holidays.On Wednesday, children at Wombwell Park took part in the RampUp sessions as part of the Cyclefest scheme.The Barnsley Council-run project – which aims to inspire physical activity across the town – will be delivered across the town this summer.A spokesperson for the council said:...

DO you know someone who deserves a Proud of Barnsley award?Nominations are still open if know a person who you think is worthy of special recognition.The glittering presentation night will, once again, be at the Barnsley Metrodome Arena on Friday, November 15.And there are awards in a variety of categories including: Young SuperstarSchool of the YearChildren’s ChampionSporting AchievementExceptional AchievementCarerFundraising TeamCommunity Hero...

PLANNING permission is being sought to extend a hotel in Wombwell.An application has been submitted to convert the restaurant at the Premier Inn, on Dearne Valley Parkway, into 23 new bedrooms and a breakfast room.The report states: “Premier Inn has identified a considerable demand for additional accommodation at its Barnsley (Dearne Valley) hotel.“The proposed development will meet Premier Inn’s operational requirements at this location, and will help to address...

TARGETED patrols have been cracking down on Barnsley’s most serious violence.These patrols are part of the Hotspot Response Policing Model, a Home Office problem solving initiative which sees targeted evidence-based policing activity in key hotspot locations.On Tuesday, officers from the Tactical Support Group took to the streets, using their specialist training to conduct open land searches and ground patrols.Officers also conducted arrest warrants for nominals wanted for serious violence...

A LOCAL farm is looking for help to name two recent additions.Two hens were dumped in the playground at Wigfield Farm last weekend and they are now looking for names for them.A farm spokesman said: “We have had two lovely hens dumped in our playground last weekend. It's amazing that these girls didn't get on the road or eaten by a fox! “Please contact rescue centres if you're struggling with...

PARKS and green spaces across Barnsley will be celebrated as part of Love Parks Week 2024.The national campaign, run by Keep Britain Tidy, runs from tomorrow to Sunday August 4. The week brings together green space managers, landowners, residents, and community organisations to celebrate and support green spaces all across the country.A number of parks across the borough will be holding events as part of the campaign. Coun James...

THERE’s plenty going on at Barnsley Museums over the summer holidays with an exciting range of free family activities.Until Sunday, 1 September, families can get active and creative across the museum's five free heritage attractions.At Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens, visitors can strike a pose and take to the stage in a specially constructed mini-theatre for ‘Costume Capers’, accompanying the new temporary exhibition ‘Costumes from the Classics.’Young explorers...

ANIMAL Care students from Barnsley College have enjoyed five days of farming fun, completely unplugged from the world.Seven students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) attended an enriching five days at Jamie’s Farm, nestled in the stunning Wye Valley of Monmouth, for a unique educational and therapeutic retreat.The students participated in a variety of real-world tasks including farming, gardening, cooking, horse care, log chopping, music, and crafts, alongside daily countryside...

POLICE have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with a theft at Cortonwood Retail Park.On July 6 at 11.30am it is reported that an elderly man had his bank card stolen at a cash machine next to Morrisons at the retail park.The victim reported that he was approached by a man who told him the machine wasn’t working properly. Whilst the victim was...

POLICE are continuing to work tirelessly in their search for Claire, who has now been missing for more than 40 days, and was last seen a month ago on June 24 in the Silkstone area.Over the weekend, officers were joined by Woodhead Mountain Rescue, using specialist equipment such as search dogs and drones during a search in wooded areas of Silkstone.Police have also carried out CCTV trawls of the local...

A SOUTH Yorkshire Police project that aims to reduce cannabis grows in the private rental sector in Barnsley has been shortlisted for an award.The ‘Cannabis Grow Aware Scheme’ is one of two SYP’s programmes have made the final 12 in the annual Tilley Awards.The Tilley Awards take place every year across three days and celebrate problem-oriented projects that have achieved measurable success in resolving issues faced by the police, partners and/or...

CONGRATULATIONS to a Barnsley teacher who has won a Nominate Your Teacher competition.Mrs Trotter, from The Ellis CE Primary School, was chosen as the winner of the Meadowhall shopping centre competition after receiving over fifty nominations.She was described as an inspiring and wonderful teacher, who dedicates herself to her school and students. Mrs Trotter ensures children in school have access to all extracurricular activities, including Young Voices, residentials, Forest School...

A WAR memorial has been proudly installed at a new home in the heart of Wombwell, thanks to a team effort from local businesses and the community.The Reform Club tribute to soldiers who served in the First World War was moved from the disused Nuwell Shopping Centre to outside the Old Town Hall building on Wombwell High Street.The works were funded by Wombwell Ward Alliance, Wombwell business Cranswick Convenience Foods and...

A FORMER Barnsley church is set to be put up for auction.The Smithies Wesleyan Reform Church, on Wakefield Road, has been handed a £375,000 guide price on the Mark Jenkinson and Co website.The main building dates from 1912 and the rear split-level former Sunday school building was built in 1932.The auction will end on September 18.

A YOUNG Barnsley photographer is celebrating after winning a national award.Callam Baker, 22, from Stairfoot, won Unidays Student Photographer of the Year Award 2024 for the Best In Action Shot. Callam first became interested in photography when he was in Year 7 at Barnsley Academy and went on to study GCSE photography before gaining a diploma at Barnsley College. He has recently gained his degree at the University of Lincoln.Callam’s...

A LOCAL charity donation centre is ready to re-open after being forced to close for three weeks after a faulty boiler tap caused extensive damage.The flooding at The Salvation Army donation centre at Unit 1 on Old Mill Lane damaged stock and brought a ceiling down and manager Lewis Griffiths and his staff have been working hard to re-open the popular centre.“A lot of stock was damaged and we have had...

BARNSLEY Council will receive almost £20m over the next decade to regenerate the town’s ‘urban area’.In September last year, the government launched the Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) programme – and Barnsley was selected as one of 55 towns to benefit from the funding.The Barnsley Urban Area – which includes areas like the town centre, Worsbrough Common, Lundwood and Monk Bretton – will be at the heart of the scheme....

AN Athersley church is holding a special service tomorrow to remember the Roller family members who died on Sunday and to support everyone affected by the tragedy.St Helen’s Church on Laithes Lane is holding a Special Mass with Father Peter Needham tomorrow at 10am for family and friends and the emergency services.The church will also be open all day today for prayer.

MORE than 120 children from local schools have graduated from Barnsley Council’s Children’s University pilot.As part of the council’s Great Childhood Ambition, 126 children from local schools in Barnsley have successfully completed our Children's University pilot. To celebrate this achievement, the children, their schools, and their families were invited to a prestigious graduation ceremony at Barnsley Civic to receive their award.Developed by the Children's University Trust, the national program has...

LATEST food hygiene ratings have been released.Two Subway stores, on West Street in Hoyland and Dryden Road in Barnsley, were given five-star ratings following assessments whilst Moncy’s Kitchen, based on Eastgate in the town centre, was given a four-out-of-five score after being assessed on June 6.A Barnsley cafe has also been handed a five-star food hygiene rating. Costa Coffee, based on Queen Street, was given the maximum score following an assessment...

A SCHOOL principal – described as a ‘legend of Darfield’ – retired on Friday after 29 years’ service – and he says he’s looking forward to a spot of relaxing.Alistair Budd, principal at Upperwood Academy in Darfield, joined the school as its deputy head when he was just 28 – and he’s risen up the ranks.Friday was his last day teaching at the school he loves so much.The 57-year-old...