New school for ex-pit village closer

The new school was always part of Goldthorpe’s planned regeneration scheme, which has been on hold since funding was cut. But Barnsley Council said yesterday that the new school should open in late 2015, just off the main Doncaster Road and Main Street area of the village.

A council spokesman said: “The existing Goldthorpe Primary school is over 100 years old and currently requires an estimated £1.3m worth of repairs. It is also recognised that the school is not big enough in the medium to long-term future to deal with the projected population growth for this area. Once the site is vacated the former school site will provide opportunities for enhancing the retail offer and creating inward investment and jobs for the area.”

The spokesman for development and environment, Coun Roy Miller, added: “An improved school facility for the children in the Dearne is fantastic and the community has waited for a new school for a number of years, since the regeneration funding was cut.”