A CAMPAIGNER who has spearheaded an action group’s battle against plans to create a one-way road system through a popular park has been selected to stand for the Liberal Democrats in the Dodworth ward in May’s elections.

Peter Fielding, who lives in Pogmoor with his wife Linda, has been a key member of the campaign to save Penny Pie Park and spoke on behalf of affected residents at Barnsley Council’s planning board meeting in December. Prior to the application being considered, a request was made by Mr Fielding to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, James Brokenshire, urging him to ‘call in’ the application which effectively means he would become the decision maker.

The group, and council, are still waiting to see if this will be the case.

Peter said: “I am really excited to be standing as a Liberal Democrat candidate for the Dodworth ward in May. I will be working very hard between now and then to get elected so I can represent the people of Dodworth, Pogmoor and Higham to get a better deal for them from this Labour council which is consistently deaf to its communities.

“We are still fighting to stop the Penny Pie Park gyratory scheme going ahead. We are determined to avoid the damaging increases in noise and air pollution, road safety concerns, increases in traffic and loss of our park that this scheme would bring.”

Coun Hannah Kitching, who represents Penistone West, is currently the only Liberal Democrat on Barnsley Council and has been vocally opposed to the gyratory scheme from the start.

“I am absolutely delighted that Peter has decided to join our team and stand for us in May,” she said.

“We will continue to fight the destruction of our precious green spaces, but now people have an opportunity to hit Labour where it hurts in May at the ballot box.”