Work starts on controversial store at showground

BUILDING work has begun on a controversial new Tesco supermarket in Penistone, on part of the town's showground.

The supermarket is part of a 15m regeneration scheme being carried out by Barnsley-based Dransfield Properties, which also includes new fire and ambulance stations, a revamped markets area, a new 190-space car park, new council offices and an all-weather bowling green.

Work on the new supermarket off Schole Avenue has been subject to delays from the outset, as it is set to be built on part of the 14-acre ground which has traditionally been used for the Penistone Show.

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A protest group concerned about the future of the show – which is billed as the biggest one-day agricultural show in the North – came up with a number of means to try to derail the scheme, one of which involved trying to get the land designated as a village green.

However, the controversy died down when Barnsley Council bought a piece of land close to the Tesco site, which will be earmarked as green space and can then be used for both the Penistone Show and other public events in the future.

Press officer for the agricultural show's organising committee, Liz Walker, said: "Although we're not that keen to see Tesco, it's lovely to see something happening at last after all that talking and arguing.

"August 24 is the date they've said it will be completed and the show is set to take place at September 11.

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"What we're worried about is what's going to happen to our field. There's also nobody we can talk to at the moment."

Mrs Walker added that it was "all systems go" for this year's Penistone Show and many of the activities were already booked.

She said: "It's going ahead, there's no doubt about it. The entertainment's booked and we're doing the schedule at this very minute.

"However, the show is going to look significantly different. I'm not sure Tesco have any idea what the show is like – this is no village fete.

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"Twenty thousand people are going to descend on Penistone and the town comes to a complete halt. I hope Tesco gets into the spirit of things and joins in to make it a great day."

The new council offices and fire and ambulance station at Springvale, which were relocated from Penistone town centre, were officially opened in November last year.

Penistone's new bowling green in Back Lane, which will neighbour the new Tesco development, was completed the previous month.