Author: Barnsley Civic Trust

Objection to gyratory proposals at Penny Pie Park

Barnsley Civic Trust has made a formal objection to the current proposals to construct a traffic gyratory system at the junction of Broadway, Dodworth Road and Pogmoor Road.

The planning application would see much of Penny Pie Park lost and a three-lane road encircling a substantial part of the remaining greenspace.

We are not convinced from the available evidence that the proposals would solve the existing traffic congestion.

In our view the perceived benefits do not outweigh the level of harm resulting from the proposals.

Penny Pie Park statement following BCT Exec meeting

Comments on bridge replacing jumble lane railway crossing

A decision on the planning application for the new ‘iconic’ foot bridge to replace the town centre railway crossing was made on Wednesday 24 October.

 

Jumble Lane crossing is due to be closed by Network Rail in March 2019 with a temporary bridge in place.

At a recent meeting of Barnsley Civic Trust, Sarah McHale from Barnsley Council told us that the new permanent bridge is designed by Renato Benedetti (Benadetti Architects) who also designed the new bridge in Castleford. The structure cost is estimated at £5m with £2m from Network Rail and £3m from BMBC.

The bridge will be ‘stunningly’ lit at night and the bridge deck is a 1.8 meter deep steel channel wide enough to cope with large flows on match days.

It has to be high enough for electrification and wide enough for platform extension in case these are planned in the future.

The main points raised at the Barnsley Civic Trust meeting were the nature of the deck and not being able to see out of it, the nature of fencing to the railway (Network Rail insisting on palisade), and the look of the canopy to the ‘funicular’ lift at either side of the bridge for people with disabilities and pushchairs etc.

The meeting, however, liked the bridge and thought that it has come a long way from its first incarnation.

Barnsley Civic Trust conveyed these views to the council and in addition we commented that it appears from the positioning of the ‘funicular lift’ on the opposite sides of the bridge at both ends that people in wheel chairs and cyclist will have to cross from one side of the bridge to the other, cutting across the route that everyone else will take. This can’t be right, can it?

Design of the Jumble lane railway crossing pedestrian bridge

A presentation on the design of the proposed new £5 million pedestrian bridge at the Jumble Lane railway crossing is taking place at a public meeting in September.

 

All are welcome on Monday 24th September at 7.00pm.
Hope House Church Hall, Blucher Street, Barnsley Town Centre,
Refreshments from 6.30pm.

The presentation will be given by Sarah McHale of Barnsley council. Sarah will describe how the design of the new bridge has developed. The bridge is part of the Barnsley Town Centre redevelopment and Sarah will inform us how the design developed following consultation and professional design review.

This is an open meeting open to everyone interested in this topic.

Talks and short AGM – Thursday 7 June, 6.30pm Hope House Church Hall

Two interesting talks follow a short business session / annual general meeting.

Sharron Sutton will talk about the development of the Museums and Arts service in Barnsley, and Paul Bennett will talk about the development of the new Library, somewhat controversially called Library @ the Lightbox. 

On Thursday 7 June at 6.30pm at the Hope House Church Hall on Blucher Street, S70 1AP

Refreshments available from 6.00pm.

‘Bramah, a tradition of engineering’ by John Bramah, 19 March

Each year South Yorkshire Industrial History Society holds the Joseph Bramah Lecture, sponsored by Barnsley Council, to commemorate the great engineer Joseph Bramah, who was born at Stainborough.

This year the lecture is given by John Bramah and its theme is ‘Bramah, a tradition of engineering’.

Barnsley Civic Trust has produced the Blue Plaque to commemorate Joseph Bramah and is promoting the lecture jointly with South Yorkshire Industrial History Society and Barnsley Council.

The lecture will be on Monday 19 March at the The Cooper Gallery, Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2AH, starting at 7pm.

Admission free but donations to South Yorkshire Industrial History Society appreciated.

What did Joseph Bramah – one of the Best of Barnsley – invent?

Just do a bing image search to see the range of things that Joseph Bramah invented, not forgetting the beer pump. Thanks Doctor Ale for reminding us.

The talk by John Bramah – ‘Bramah – a tradition of engineering’ – at the Cooper Gallery on Monday 19 March at 7pm is coming up soon.  Thanks to the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society and Barnsley Council for arranging the annual Bramah lecture.