Glimpse of future for communities

In Elsecar, plans have been drawn up to transform the former school and recreation sites next to the railway station into new houses and a park and ride facility.

The scheme includes "large-scale" landscaping improvements to what is currently a run-down and derelict area. If the plans go ahead, there will be a new access to the site created from King Street for pedestrians and one from Millhouses Street for vehicles. Subject to planning permission being granted by Barnsley Council, a number of new homes could be built on the land, along with the proposed park and ride facility, with up to 90 parking spaces.

Accessibility to Elsecar railway station, meanwhile, would also be improved.

Paul Fell, strategic transportation group leader at Barnsley Council, said: "I am delighted that we have delivered investment to bring new life and vibrancy to a previously run-down space in the centre of Elsecar, which will create new homes and provide a much-needed new station parking area.

"I'd encourage local people to come along to a session on May 26 to give us feedback on the plans or contact us via the council's website."

Next Wednesday, May 26, an event will take place at the Gray Street Centre in Elsecar where people can view the plans for themselves. The session will run from 3pm to 7pm and members of the public will be able to ask questions and submit their own comments.

Meanwhile, people can also view plans for the new NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) health and social care centre in Hoyland next week.

Council officers will be at Hoyland town hall between 10am and 1pm, and again from 4pm to 7pm, on Thursday, May 20 to introduce the plans and answer questions.

Representatives from construction firm Morgan Ashurst, which is soon set to begin building work on the health centre, will also be at the event to discuss potential employment opportunities.

Scheduled to open in summer 2011, the centre in High Street will provide a wide range of services including GPs, minor surgery

facilities and a pharmacy, as well as community facilities and children and adult services.

The plans are part of a wider 22m scheme to build four landmark LIFT centres across Barnsley; in Darton, Athersley and Great Houghton as well as in Hoyland.

The venture by Barnsley Community Solutions is a joint public-private partnership between NHS Barnsley, Barnsley Council, Community Health Partnerships and Community Solutions for Primary Care, a private sector partner.

It has previously completed five other centres in Barnsley – at Worsbrough, Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe, Grimethorpe and Cudworth – in the last four

years.

Phil Coppard, chief executive of Barnsley Council, said: "The new walk-in centres are an important part of the council's work to improve residents' access to information and advice and an excellent example of what can be achieved by working in partnership, being joint-funded and run by Barnsley Council and NHS Barnsley."

Tom Sheard, chairman of NHS Barnsley, said the agreement would bring "long-term health improvements for local people."

He added: "Working closely with our partners, and listening to the people in the communities where the new premises will be built, has allowed us to obtain the best value for money while providing excellent facilities."