Megan Wallace explores the Barnsley Chronicle archives from 2002.
THE town centre could be remodelled to look like a Tuscan hill village in the biggest change to Barnsley in more than a generation.
London architect Will Alsop’s radical designs feature an ‘inhabited wall’ sheltering the town from the motorway, trees, lots of space, and even a lake.
Details of his ‘sacrificial scheme’ are being kept firmly under wraps.
But his bold ideas have surprised even David Kennedy, the council’s executive director of development and environment, a key figure in the regeneration scheme known as Re-thinking Barnsley.
He said: “We wanted a wow factor and I think he’s found that.
“We couldn’t have predicted what he has come up with because it’s so imaginative.
“Whatever people think about his ideas, he has risen to the challenge and it will certainly stimulate discussion.
“This vision is what we want for Barnsley in the next 20 years so there was no point in designing something similar to what we already had.”
A GOVERNMENT minister has launched a pair of wheelchair-accessible buses worth £140,000 for new transport services in Barnsley.
The ‘Rohill Kestrel’ and ‘Optare Solo’ buses are intended to provide access to training and jobs for the former mining communities of North East Barnsley and South East Wakefield.
The vehicles will cater for the elderly, disabled and those without access to a car or other public services.
They were handed to Coalfields Community Transport at the Acorn Centre, Grimethorpe, by transport minister John Speller, with Jeff Ennis MP and ward councillors Alex Vodden, Chris Sykes and Arthur Whittaker.
TWO council social workers from Barnsley have been praised by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Professional support officer Kyra Ayre and children and family social worker Tina Bates were among 200 from around the country honoured at a reception at 10 Downing Street.
Kyra has worked for the authority for six years and is now in charge of professional development in the adult mental health service.
Tina has been employed by the council for more than 15 years including posts at two children’s residential homes.
Mr Blair said: “Social workers throughout this country perform challenging and vital work every day.
“Yet they are among the unsung heroes of the public services, their compassion and care for others is rarely recognised publicly.”
PRIVATE Scott Gregg was awarded the prize for Best Endeavour after completing his infantry training in Catterick.
The prize awarded to the student who has improved the most throughout the course was presented when he passed out earlier this month.
Scott, 17, of Osmond Drive, Worsbrough Bridge, has been in the Army for 15 months.
A former Kingstone school pupil, he worked as a car mechanic before joining up.
Now he is preparing to join the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in Germany.
