Megan Wallace explores the Barnsley Chronicle archives from this week in 2000.

KIMBERLEY Elliot cantered to success on a horse descended from Grand National legend Red Rum.

She won a place in the Pony Association major championship in Peterborough after winning a tournament in London.

Kimberley, 16, of Doncaster Road, Ardsley, did it on Charlie Chaplin - the great nephew of Red Rum.

Proud mum, Mary, explained: “She trained Charlie herself and has now achieved what every rider aims for.”

A RESPITE home for ex-miners suffering from chronic dust diseases is to be built in Barnsley.

The home - the first of its kind in the country - will operate like a hospice, with nurses, carers and specialist medical equipment on hand to help look after bronchitis and emphysema sufferers.

Families would be able to book in relatives for up to a fortnight, giving them a much-needed break from care.

The 12-bed centre would create jobs and ease some of the burden on the health service as every year many former miners end up in hospital, often in intensive care.

Barnsley West and Penistone MP Mick Clapham - himself a former miner - said it was likely it would be built in Wombwell because of the density of former miners in the area.

A FORMER Barnsley school could become the studios for a new television station - if more than £1m of lottery and European funding can be raised.

A new community station called Barnsley TV has earmarked the old Beckett Street school as likely headquarters for the venture which would broadcast programmes made in Barnsley and about Barnsley.

The people behind it say it would also give community groups, schools and charities the chance to get themselves on air.

Barnsley TV has been awarded a four-year broadcasting licence by the Independent Television Commission and organisers are hoping to land about £1.25 million in grants to get the project off the ground.

A NEW town centre link road has been approved in principle by the council’s cabinet.

Plans for the £2.5m road - which will link Huddersfield Road and Town End - will now go on display and the public can voice their thoughts.

The two-way 30mph route off Shambles Street will cut through the derelict Canister Company site and up a steep 1:8 gradient to swing into Churchfield and onto Church Lane.

The plans include the demolition of a row of terraced houses at the end of Churchfield, all of which have been compulsory purchased by the council and are currently being being let on short-term leases.

It also includes cutting into the disused St Mary’s burial ground to widen Church Lane.

Radar surveys have already shown there could be human remains in the strip of land required which will have to be exhumed and re-interred before any work can start.