A HOUSING developer has been urged to tighten up security at its Cudworth site after concerns about youngsters getting on to it were made.

Barratt Homes have began groundworks on their controversial 278-home estate off Carrs Lane and Newland Avenue, but youths have been scaling the security fencing to access the site during the festive period.

Diane Bryan, whose Newland Avenue home overlooks the fields where the homes are being built, issued a warning on the Cudworth Unites Facebook page, the 1,000-strong campaign group which formed to oppose the housing plan two years ago.

“We said all along that there would be issues from start to finish,” Diane told the Chronicle. “It’s easy for youngsters to get over the fencing and climb on the materials which have been left on the site.

“How long will it be before we have another tragedy? You would think security would be of high importance, just as they said it would be in the planning application process, but it is now a magnet for youths.

“It concerns me that the surrounding roads are unable to cope with years of HGVs and hundreds more cars when the estate is finished, but site safety has to be Barratt’s priority and I don’t think it’s being met.”

A wrangle between Barratt Homes and Barnsley Council, which initially refused the scheme, ended last July when Section 106 money - cash developers are expected to contribute towards easing a development’s impact on the community - was agreed upon.

That figure - £1.8m - will go towards providing more primary school places, new affordable housing and to the nearby Dorothy Hyman Stadium, although infrastructure such as roads were deemed to be suitable.

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A spokesman from Barratt told the Chronicle that nearby schools will be approached and talks will be offered to emphasise the importance of staying away from building sites.

“At present the Cudworth site is under the management of a civil engineering company, who is responsible for its security,” he said.

“Barratt Homes is committed to supporting the communities in which it builds. We will have held health and safety talks in schools in the past to help deter unsafe behaviour around construction sites.

“We are exploring the possibility of holding a talk in a school near to the Cudworth development to support with this in the area.”