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Major education project aims to 'leave no child behind' [read here]
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Pub with historic Barnsley FC link goes up for sale
ONE of Barnsley’s oldest pubs which played a vital role in Barnsley FC’s early years has come under threat - as potential buyers have set their sights on converting the historic site into a shop.
The Dove Inn on Doncaster Road has recently gone up for sale, with owners Old Mill Brewery claiming that it no longer fits with their wider plans as they push for more gastro pub-style establishments.
The sale is being handled...
Proud dad’s surprise nomination for cricket-loving Emma
A YOUNG girl with an outgoing spirit has been surprised by her father with a Proud of Barnsley nomination that celebrates her cricketing achievements.
Emma Wrightson, 18, represents Yorkshire Cricket Club, playing for the under-18s side where she was recently made captain.
Starting ten years back at her local cricket club, the girl from Silkstone has continued to develop her skills, always putting herself out there with hopes of improving.
Her father, Ian Wrightson, told...
Allotment owner Mick’s unique ‘grow your own’ scheme helps locals
THROUGH a unique ‘grow your own’ scheme one local allotment owner got £1,400 worth of fresh fruit and veg donated to the people of Grimethorpe.
Mick Curphey presented the idea of the scheme to fellow members of the Grimethorpe Allotment Group last year and was instantly met with support.
Collectively, they began working on growing and potting plants that could be donated to the community free of charge to allow residents to grow their own...
Major education project aims to ‘leave no child behind’
A MAJOR project to drive up Barnsley youngsters’ education outcomes will see £1.6m spent on more support in order to leave ‘no child behind’.
The council’s Great Childhoods Ambition scheme follows the successful pilot of the Children’s University initiative in local schools, which showed ‘promising results’ in engaging pupils.
Touted as an ‘early years to teens’ scheme, it’s also set to boost chances of gaining employment upon y
Mining fears allayed at potential housing site
CONCERNS over a potential housing site’s former mining past have been allayed by authorities ahead of a crunch meeting which will pave the way for the new development to commence.
A planning application, submitted by Hoober Homes, seeks permission to build 51 homes on land to the south of West Street, Worsbrough Bridge.
The site, originally known as the Dearne and Dove Steam Saw Mill, has a long history of industrial uses dating back to...
Lidl bosses ‘actively searching’ for new site in borough
A SUPERMARKET giant which ended its almost three-year quest to build on land following ‘significant’ delays with Barnsley Council’s planning process has reiterated its commitment to finding an alternative site in the town.
Lidl lodged its bid for a new store on Sheffield Road, off Birdwell roundabout, with a proposed new access off Cross Keys Lane in early 2022 before withdrawing the application just days before a planning meeting which was scheduled for December last...
Gonorrhoea cases hit record high in Barnsley
A RECORD number of gonorrhoea cases were reported in Barnsley last year, the latest figures show.
Figures from the UK Health Security Agency show there were 266 gonorrhoea diagnoses in Barnsley in 2023.
It was up from 246 the year before and the highest since local records began in 2012.
Meanwhile, there were 20 syphilis diagnoses in Barnsley in 2023 up from 17 the year before.
Nationally, recorded cases of syphilis were at the highest...
Bike route to showcase Barnsley’s history and scenery
A NEW bike route which promises to showcase the best of Barnsley’s history and scenery has been unveiled as part of a multi-million initiative to boost cycling numbers.
Designed to encourage communities to get involved in the fun and freedom of cycling, the scheme - South Yorkshire By Bike - includes multiple family-friendly sections for people to explore.
Mayor Oliver Coppard and Ingbirchworth-born Olympian Ed Clancy revealed its 250-kilometre route this week, which connects Barnsley...
Mr Europe Kyle following in dad’s footsteps
A ROYSTON bodybuilder has followed in his dad’s footsteps by being named Mr Europe at an event in Italy earlier this month.
Kyle Weiss, 36, has been training to become a bodybuilder since he was 14 - and his dad Terry has won it all.
Terry picked up the sport in the 1980s after finding a weightlifting gym and soon became hooked.
In 1985 he placed third in his first competition and since then, the...
HMOs taking away ‘affordable family homes’
NATIONAL companies have been sweeping up homes in Barnsley to convert into HMOs - taking away ‘affordable family homes’ from locals.
Houses of multiple occupation are homes that are rented out by at least three people who share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen.
The Chronicle understands that as of June, 188 HMOs have been licensed across the borough, managed by companies nationwide including from London, Nottingham and Gloucester.
The Central ward has been most...
‘Rapid actions’ needed on sewage
A UTILITIES firm which released sewage into Barnsley’s watercourses for thousands of hours last year has been blasted by the Environment Agency in a damning report.
The study said Yorkshire Water was rated a three-star company in 2022, but has now had its rating demoted to two stars following last year’s performance.
It had 26 total pollution incidents per 10,000km of sewer, up from 22 in 2022, while data from the Environment Agency shows sewage...
Oral cancer cases rising every year
THE number of people being referred to Barnsley Hospital with oral cancer has been increasing year-on-year - and last year’s figures are more than double that of 2017.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed that in 2023 at total of 405 oral cancer referrals were made to the hospital’s trust.
February saw the highest number of referrals when 49 people were diagnosed, whilst June and March also had 40 or more.
In comparison, there...
Ethan takes top role at only 21
A BARNSLEY man has risen through the ranks of massive international companies to become a chief executive at the age of 21.
Ethan Sumner, the son of Central ward councillor Nicola Sumner, will serve as the CEO of DevEx Connect - a community-driven independent research, analyst and events organisation.
He began his journey at 16 when he set his sights on becoming a DevOps engineer, a goal he achieved as the youngest DevOps engineer at...
Parents’ heartache as baby ‘just slipped away in her sleep’
THE mother of a ‘perfect’ young baby girl who died in her sleep at just seven weeks old on Friday night says she keeps hoping she will wake up from ‘the nightmare she is in’.
When Callie-Jayne was born on June 2 at Barnsley Hospital her parents, 42-year-old Chris Stone and 37-year-old Amy Galland, admitted it was one of the happiest days of their lives.
But just seven weeks later and their dream has now...
Group benefits from Charlie’s legacy
A POPULAR councillor who clocked up 49 years’ service before he died last year left donations to several groups close to his heart.
Charles Wraith MBE, known to most as Charlie, was elected in 1974 and served on numerous committees and eight governing bodies with Barnsley Council, most notably serving the Cudworth ward.
He died aged 80 but left ‘significant donations’ to several local organisations including Cudworth History Group and Chewin’ t’Cud magazine, as we
Rapist dies a year into 30-year sentence
A RAPIST who sexually abused three young girls for a number of years died one year into his 30-year sentence at HMP Wakefield, it has been confirmed.
John Kelk, 69, formerly of Wingfield Road in Athersley South, was jailed for 30 years in 2022 following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
He was found guilty by a jury of a total of 22 charges including rape and sexual assault.
Kelk abused three victims over a...
Country rocked by tragic crash
A DEVASTATING crash which killed four adults and two children rocked the nation to its core - and more than £380,000 has been raised to support an 11-year-old Barnsley girl who has been left without her mum and dad.
Police rushed to the A61 Barnsley Road between Wakefield and Barnsley at 3.54pm on Sunday following reports that a motorcycle and Ford Focus had collided.
Involved in the collision were 33-year-old Shane Roller, 30-year-old Shannen Morgan...
‘Major shake-up’ of benefits system needed, says Pathways to Work report
A LANDMARK project will aim to get more than 2,000 people into work in Barnsley by 2028 at a cost of £10m - and it’s expected to generate almost £70m in economic benefits over the same time frame.
The Pathways to Work Commission report was published by Barnsley Council on Tuesday and it sets out the need for a ‘major shake-up’ of the benefits system.
Figures show that 27 per cent of the working-age population...
Cawthorne pupils work inspired by De Morgan collection
CAWTHORNE Church of England Primary School was packed out recently as members of the community gathered to see its pupils’ artwork.
Over the past year the school has been running an art and wellbeing project with the help of Cannon Hall Museum, Barnsley College and All Saints’ Church.
The pupils focused on the work of William and Evelyn De Morgan - whose art is featured at Cannon Hall - and received help from director of...
Man arrested in A61 fatal crash investigation
POLICE investigating a road traffic collision on the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley in which six people died have arrested a man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Emergency services received reports of the collision, which happened near at 3:54pm on Sunday afternoon.
Six people, including four adults and two children, died at the scene.
Shane Roller, aged 33, Shannen Morgan, aged 30, Rubie Morgan-Roller, aged nine, and Lillie Morgan-Roller,...
Fundraising campaign for crash victims' son no longer accepting donations
A GoFundMe page set up to support the son of a couple who died in the tragic A61 collision at the weekend is no longer accepting donations.
The page was set up by Vicky Beckett yesterday and currently stands at over £8k but the family of Christopher and Janine Barton last night asked people not to donate and for the page to be taken down.
A family member said on Facebook last night:...
Residential plans for former church
PLANS to turn a town centre church into nine flats have been submitted to Barnsley Council.
St Barnabas Hall, the church on Old Mill Lane, was built originally as a catholic church in 1933 following the demolition of a previous building in the 1880s.
The site, comprising two church buildings connected together by single-storey extensions, was put up for sale in 2023 but is now vacant.
The buildings were originally catholic churches and last used...
Man bailed following fatal collision
A MAN arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision which killed six people has been released on bail.
Emergency services received reports of the collision, which happened near at 3.54pm on Sunday afternoon.
Six people, including four adults and two children, died at the scene.
Shane Roller, 33, Shannen Morgan, 30, nine-year-old Rubie Morgan-Roller and Lillie Morgan-Roller, four, were travelling in a Ford Focus.
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Councillor honoured with plaque in Goldthorpe centre
FAMILY and friends of the late Barnsley councillor Alan Gardiner paid tribute to him in Goldthorpe last week.
Alan, who died in 2022 aged 72, represented Dearne North for more than 30 years following his election in 1988 - and was described as an ‘outstanding servant to his community’.
A commemorative stone engraved with the late councillor’s name has now been installed at the Horse and Groom Square in Goldthorpe.
His widow, Janet Gardiner, was...
Handbags welcomed in latest Love Grace appeal
BARNSLEY College has donated a number of handbags to support local victims of abuse and domestic violence.
The donation is part of the 2024 Love Grace appeal.
Love Grace is a charity run by Hannah O’Callaghan OBE and her aunt, Gillian Millane OBE, in memory of Grace Millane, who was murdered on the eve of her 22nd birthday.
The handbags were donated to IDAS earlier this month.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “IDAS have...
Pensioner volunteer Alan hits 1,000th medication delivery
CARING pensioner Alan Frear found a passion for volunteering during the Covid-19 pandemic and can now proudly say he’s made 1,000 medication deliveries for Barnsley Hospital.
Through the NHS-run service, volunteers like Alan collect essential medication and medical devices from the hospital and deliver it to patients at home.
Alan, 70, started his journey with the service three years ago, supporting the wellbeing of people across South and West Yorkshire as a steward during the...
Bikers killed in crash were husband and wife
A HUSBAND and wife who died when their motorbike was involved in a crash that also killed a family of four have been named.
Christopher Barton, 56, and his wife Janine, 48, were travelling on the same bike when they collided with a Ford Focus on the A61, near Staincross, on Sunday afternoon.
Their son - who has not been named - described them as ‘a loving, caring mum and dad who always put me...
Plan to work with schools to assess rise in vaping
AN investigation into the popularity of vaping among youngsters will result in public health teams undertaking more work in schools to better understand its rise in prominence.
A scrutiny panel - which includes councillors, public health teams, hospital medics and Barnsley Youth Council representatives - have been working together since last autumn.
Children using vapes in the past three years has tripled, with 20.5 per cent of children aged between 11 and 17 having tried...
Fox Collection paintings restored and on display
FIVE paintings from the 19th century have been conserved and are now on display at the Cooper Gallery.
The Fox Collection, a gift from the children of James and Jane Fox in 1934, has recently been conserved.
It consists of 34 paintings, mostly of the natural world including flowers, fruit, mountains and streams.
The five paintings that have been brought back to life are by Thomas Joseph Banks, Joseph Bernardi, Elizabeth Dawson, George Clare and...
Diverse school where pupils speak over 25 languages
A SCHOOL that has ‘something magical’ about it has been recognised for its supportive learning environment and put forward as School of the Year at this year’s Proud of Barnsley.
Worsbrough Common Primary School has prioritised creating a safe environment for its pupils, building a community where youngsters from various backgrounds can connect and learn.
In their latest Ofsted inspection at the end of April, the school received an overall good grade, but with outstanding...
Neighbours prove they have staying power
PAMELA Watson says she can one up Raymond Horsley - who has lived in the same house for 70 years - and she even lives on the same street.
Last week, the Chronicle reported that 95-year-old Raymond, who moved into his house on Rufford Avenue in July 1954, could stake a claim to being the longest-serving resident across the whole town.
But after reading the article, 74-year-old Pamela says she’s lived in the same house...
Appeal for Poppie tops £200k
THE community has rallied round in support of an 11-year-old girl who lost her mum and dad and two sisters in a road collision at the weekend.
A fundraising appeal to support Poppie Morgan-Roller was launched yesterday morning and at the time of writing 12,000 donations have been made with over £200,000 being pledged.
Local businesses and individuals are also organising bucket collections and fundraisers to further help the appeal.
Family friend...
Speed bumps to stay despite strong opposition
A PETITION which garnered more than 200 signatures calling for ‘hazardous’ speed bumps to be removed in Great Houghton has been rejected by Barnsley Council.
A total of 220 people - comprising 103 local residents, 117 people outside of the borough and the remainder online - signed the petition for the bumps to be removed on High Street.
Residents were concerned that the speed calming measures had become dangerous - and called for action.
The...
John digs deep to keep mining heritage alive for future generations
FOR years now there has been one man preserving and sharing the history of Barnsley’s mines.
John Greaves, who runs Mining Memorabilia To Lend, has dedicated his time and energy to ensuring that everyone has access to practical and real education about mining.
With a goal of ‘keeping mining alive’, the 70-year-old from Wath is sharing his great collection of mining tools and artefacts with anyone who cares to see them.
Travelling to local schools...
School pays tribute to family after road collision tragedy
THE school attended by two sisters who died alongside their parents in a collision on the A61 between Staincross and Newmillerdam yesterday has paid tribute to the family.
Six people died in the collision between a Ford Focus car and a motorbike yesterday afternoon – and today, West Yorkshire Police named the occupants of the car as Shane Roller, aged 33, his partner Shannen Morgan, aged 30, nine-year-old Rubie Morgan-Roller and Lillie Morgan-Roller, aged...
Appeal launched to help Poppie following tragic collision
A FUNDRAISING appeal to help support the daughter and sister of the victims of a horrific collision yesterday has raised more than £14,000 in four hours.
Yesterday, six people died in a collision on the A61 between Staincross and Newmillerdam.
Among those who lost their lives were Shane Roller, Shannen Morgan and their daughters Lillie and Rubie.
The appeal has been launched by Nick Hepple to help the couple’s surviving daughter Poppie....
Hundreds of children living with opiate dependent adults
MORE than 1,300 children in Barnsley are living with an adult who has an opiate dependency - and the figure has been on the rise since 2016.
Next week, councillors will discuss the work that is taking place to prevent and reduce the harms caused by drug use to individuals, families and the community.
The latest figures show that there are an estimated 2,199 people in Barnsley who use opiates or crack cocaine.
This equates...
Supermarket heroes save tot who suffered seizure
TWO heroic supermarket staff were ‘just doing their job’ when they saved the life of a baby who had swallowed his tongue whilst shopping with his family.
In March, while on a shift like any other in Asda at Worsbrough, employees Jackie Walker and Chris Nevin were thrown into a horrifying situation when they realised the one-year-old child of a shopper was having a seizure.
Lucy Barkham was doing her weekly shop with her partner...
New library plans go to public consultation
PLANS to demolish Wath Library and replace it with a more modern structure have gone to public consultation.
The £8.9m scheme for the redevelopment of Wath town centre - which includes a new library - was officially rubber stamped by council officers last year.
The public space around the building will be improved and will include new play equipment.
Investment in the surrounding public realm aims to draw people into the town centre and provide...
Prestigious Green Flags flying high at beauty spots
FOUR Barnsley beauty spots have received prestigious awards.
Elsecar Park, Cannon Hall, Worsbrough Mill Country Park and Carlton Marsh were each recognised for providing well-maintained and accessible green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy on their way to bagging their respective Green Flag Awards.
An international quality mark for parks and green spaces, the accolade is given out to demonstrate the highest standards in areas such as cleanliness, safety and community involvement.
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Six people die in collision
SIX people, including two children, have died in a collision this afternoon.
The collision, which involved two vehicles, happened on the A61 Barnsley Road between Staincross and Newmillerdam.
Emergency services received reports of the incident which involved a Ford Focus car and a motorcycle at 3:54pm.
A motorcyclist and pillion passenger, one male and one female, were confirmed dead at the scene.
An adult male and female, and two children, who...
Police and residents praised for Oakwell work
LOCAL councillors have praised both residents and South Yorkshire Police for their collaborative work to tackle antisocial behaviour in the Oakwell area.
Local Heather Linney, 54, has been running a Facebook group regarding the increase in crime in the area and over the past few months she’s recorded a total of 81 incidents, but claims the real figure will be much higher than that.
Dozens of residents were in attendance at a meeting last week...
Cuts forcing council into thinking ahead
FINANCIAL plans are being put in place by Barnsley Council bosses to make better use of the cash it requires to keep essential services running - after it was revealed expenditure has had to be slashed by a fifth in the last decade.
Shock figures revealed in a cabinet report showed the extent austerity has had on the local authority’s budget, with a 21.2 per cent reduction in core spending power being recorded since 2010....
Research reveals daily risks faced by horse riders
‘SHOCKING’ accident rates on routes frequently used by horse riders have been revealed as part of a cross-border scheme to boost motorists’ awareness.
Julie Fields - who has owned horses for 30 years - has urged both Barnsley and Wakefield councils to finally listen to her and others having made a desperate plea to help horse riders feel safer on the roads.
Her campaign revealed more than 30 accidents have occurred on popular routes used...
Miners’ pension pot uplift will come to fruition - MP
PROMISES to provide an immediate uplift for miners whose pension pots were ‘hijacked’ by the former Conservative government will come to fruition, according to a Barnsley MP who met the minister responsible for delivering the pledge.
First introduced in 1952, the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme set out to ensure members received a good pension after years of work in coal mines.
The Labour Party confirmed in its pre-election manifesto that it would review the surplus sharing...
Pupil works with professional artist on The Way Ahead art piece
A YEAR seven pupil got the incredible opportunity to work with a professional artist and collaborate on a new art piece.
Netherwood Academy’s Elsa Kemp worked with artist Caroline Cardus on a new project that was unveiled in her school on Monday.
Working with Barnsley Civic, the Wombwell-based school has been providing unique opportunities for pupils to engage with local and national artists, designers, theatre makers and writers.
At the beginning of the year, they...