Category: Barnsley Civic Trust

James Hudson Taylor talk

Great talk on Tuesday 26 February by Fred Thompson and Philip Nuthall on the James Hudson Taylor trail in Barnsley and on Salem Church. We discusssed raising awareness of James Hudson Taylor and attracting more people to Barnsley to visit Salem Church and follow the trail.

Good to know that the two Barnsley Civic Trust blue plaques started the trail in 2012; now augmented by the red plaques of the trail

Talk on getting good design in our town

Tom Lonsdale gave an interesting and informative talk on Design in Regeneration and the work of the  Barnsley Design Panel; members of Barnsley Civic Trust were joined by others interested in the topic at a recent meeting.  Tom, the chair of the Design Panel, covered a wide range of aspects of design and some of the major schemes in the town centre.

This talk is one of a series of talks promoted by Barnsley Civic Trust

 

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?

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.

Barnsley Civic Trust

Since its inception in March 2007, Barnsley Civic Trust has prided itself in keeping abreast of local issues, especially those which concern our urban environment.

We have organised open meetings, debates and discussions and regularly comment on planning applications and respond to consultations on proposed policies and changes.

We have organised an annual shop award scheme, a blue plaque scheme, and town trails.

There is also a social dimension to the Barnsley Civic Trust with a dining out group, fundraising and awareness raising events, talks and guided walks.

The success of Barnsley Civic Trust depends on the support of its members and volunteers.

Barnsley Civic Trust is funded by its own individual and business members. We also apply for funding for particular projects. We are particularly grateful to our corporate members and sponsors for their support of projects.

We are always keen to welcome both new individual and corporate members as well as business sponsors who help support, sustain and develop our activities. If you do not want to become a member at this time but would like to keep in touch, please follow us on twitter and on facebook. And check out the pages of this our website.