Work starts on home for farmers' market

Changes to the market are part of a 15m regeneration scheme in the town, which is being carried out by Barnsley-based Dransfield Properties and involves creating new council offices, a Tesco supermarket, a fire and ambulance station and a bowling green.

A spokesman for Barnsley Council said: "The move will allow foundation works on site to be completed in time for the erection of an iconic oak-framed structure this month, which will house the market once all remaining works have been completed early this autumn.

"Hoardings and signs will clearly mark the temporary location, which will be on the site of the old abattoir.

"Moving from its current temporary spot on the car park will obviously increase car parking capacity until the building works have finished and the market can move back home."

Building work began back in February on the new Tesco supermarket, which is being built off Schole Avenue on land that has been traditionally used for the Penistone Show.

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 can be used for both the show and other public events.

Work on the new Tesco store is set to be completed at the end of August and this year's Penistone Show is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 11.

The new council offices and fire and ambulance station at Springvale, relocated from Penistone town centre, were officially opened in November 2009.

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