PLANS to build a new roundabout on a former opencast mine have been earmarked for approval by the council’s planning board despite a number of objections made by concerned local residents.
The application was put out to consultation last year after being originally submitted on November 5 for the roundabout to be built on the A635 Barnsley Road, Goldthorpe.
Almost 300 neighbour notification letters were sent out and nine objections were received in response to the consultation whilst only one support message was received.
Objections to the site include the impact of air quality, the concern that Billingley Green Lane will be used as a ‘rat run’, and the loss of green belt across the borough.
The application was also sent to consultation for ward members Labour councillors Kevin Osborne, Pauline Markham and Trevor Smith and Billingley Parish Council, but no responses were received.
However, at next week’s planning regulatory board meeting on Tuesday, the plans are set to be approved by members on the board.
The site is linked to the controversial Goldthorpe masterplan, earmarked site ES10, which will see the delivery of 73 hectares of employment land and supporting community infrastructure.
Another objection by local residents was there are already too many roundabouts in the area after recent highways works to upgrade nearby Cathill, Broomhill and Wath Road roundabouts were completed.
A planning document states there is a need for the proposal to be granted to ensure the Goldthorpe masterplan site will be accessible.
It also concludes the roundabout would lower speeds around the area which is deemed to be a primary route linking to the town to Doncaster one of many objections made by residents.
“The application proposes a new roundabout junction on Barnsley Road that would connect to a future arm, providing access to the ES10 site,” the report said.
“The proposal has been designed as a standalone roundabout and as such, would not result in an increase in traffic.
“The case in support of the development is one based around the need to facilitate access into the employment use allocation, ES10.
“The scheme seeks to deliver the necessary highways infrastructure works to facilitate the access to the development site, taking account of the future growth anticipated relating to site ES10 and wider Local Plan related growth.
“Site ES10 will deliver 72.9 hectares of the 80.9 hectares of employment land allocated in Goldthorpe (including Thurnscoe and Bolton-upon-Dearne).
“Given the extent to which the ES10 site will meet identified employment need, the role the roundabout will play in opening it up attracts substantial weight when balancing the merits of the proposal.
“The roundabout would result in a decrease of traffic speeds along this stretch of the road which would be welcomed by residents living within the proximity of the site.”
