ANGRY residents turned out in force yesterday to show their united opposition to plans to create a new queue-cutting gyratory system at the expense of their much-loved local park.
The stretch of the A628, which runs from Broadway traffic lights to Town End roundabout, is set to receive a raft of work to combat long queues into the town centre.
But the creation of the multi-lane one-way gyratory, which will cut through Penny Pie Park, has been met with fury from locals who labelled the plan as a ‘money-wasting exercise’ this week.
The petition, which has already amassed more than 500 signatures since it began on Sunday, says the park is an integral part of the community and one of just a few remaining recreational greenspaces left in the area.
Although thousands of pounds in Section 106 money funds set aside by housing developers for loss of amenity has been spent on the park’s play area, multi-use games space and outdoor gym, each will have to be relocated elsewhere on the site to accommodate the new road.
Lyndsey Darren, of Pogmoor Road, started the petition and said: “I felt compelled to start it because something needs to be done to show just how much people care about this brilliant local park.
“It’s continually used, it’s looked after by a fantastic group of volunteers and it’s a safe place.
“A lot of money and time has been invested into making it what it is today and all that will be undone if the council decides to build a road through it. This gyratory will have a huge impact on its users and everyone who lives nearby and also make things much more dangerous. I don’t think there’s a need to spend £4.3m on creating something, at considerable expense to those who live there, just to cut a few minutes off a journey.”
Barnsley Council’s highways department submitted its formal planning application bid this week which, if agreed on by members of the planning board, could result in work starting as soon as April next year.
Final plans show traffic from the motorway towards the town centre will be diverted around the new road system from the Broadway traffic lights, with vehicles coming out of town using the existing but improved Dodworth Road, which is being made one-way on a four-lane section past Horizon Community College.
The traffic lights will remain, but there will be a new road built to bypass a section of Pogmoor Road and no right turn available onto Broadway to traffic from the motorway, with motorists having to go around the gyratory and back up Dodworth Road.
New traffic lights will be installed on an altered entrance and exit to Horizon another area of contention for residents who claim the traffic at peak times will cause ‘chaos’ on Town End roundabout.
“The park is a lifesaver as it’s the best space for emergency helicopters to land,” Lyndsey, 44, said.
“We fear there will be more accidents in the future as it will become more difficult to cross the road.
“Things like response times for police and fire crews will increase as they won’t be able to go down Dodworth Road towards the town centre.
“The plans have been submitted to save time for motorists heading into the town centre, but if anything it will make it worse when students are coming out of Horizon.
“Penny Pie Park is one of the reasons why many people move into the area as it’s such a good space for everyone to use, and that’s exactly what they do.
“The reaction the petition has had is overwhelming but the amount of people who have backed it shows just how important it is to our community, the ones who will be affected by the council’s plan.”
The first phase of public consultation on the scheme has begun, with more than 500 homes local to the potential gyratory able to have a say on what is being proposed.
Another consultation will start next month on the council’s plans for the future look of the park, where residents will have a chance to have their say on the repositioning of the existing facilities.
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesman, added: “We need to make it easier for people to get in and out from junction 37. Better roads will improve travel times for local residents and encourage more businesses to invest in Barnsley.
“For some time we’ve been exploring options to ease existing congestion and improve air quality along Dodworth Road.
“A long-term solution is needed to provide enough capacity for the current volume of traffic and prevent queuing on the M1, as well as accommodating the future business and housing growth aspirations of the borough.”
Find the petition here.
