‘SIGNIFICANT’ legal issues encountered over the long-awaited remodelling of a junction - recognised as one of the nation’s top 50 high-risk roads - are putting the brakes on improvement work, the Chronicle can reveal.
Despite other road safety work being completed on the A628, including a speed limit reduction near Millhouse Green Primary School and the arrival of traffic regulation orders (TROs), the main scheme in the package - the Fulshaw Cross junction - still has not come to fruition.
Initial plans were drawn up - which included remodelling the junction to clearly define turning priorities on and off the main road to reduce accidents - but local councillors have complained over being met with a ‘wall of silence’ since.
The Chronicle can reveal that despite solicitors being instructed over the acquisition of two parcels of land needed by the council in order to accommodate the work in 2023, there is still an impasse.
An email obtained by the Chronicle, which comes from the council’s estates department, said the solicitor for one of the plots of land is in a position to complete, however there are ‘significant legal issues’ with the transfer of the other plot of land.
Its deceased owner’s estate has not been finalised and it is understood that a trustee needs to be appointed.
Despite several requests, no confirmation of when this trustee will be appointed has been given to the council, the local authority confirmed.
Coun Hannah Kitching told the Chronicle it was imperative that the matter is progressed.
“About £1.4m was secured from the Department for Transport for the work on the A628 and although I am pleased two of the three schemes outlined have been completed, the main one still hasn’t.
“I understand a council employee who was overseeing this left, but it’s astonishing that it’s seemingly been forgotten about just because of a staff member’s departure.
“We’re talking about a large sum of money which was supposedly ring-fenced for this project.
“The crossroads were identified as one of the most high-risk places in not just Barnsley but the entire country for its danger - hence why the money was allocated to increasing safety - so it’s of the utmost importance that this is investigated.”
The A628, which runs through Penistone, Silkstone, Thurlstone and Millhouse Green, was identified by the Department for Transport as one of the country’s worst having collated accident data.
Coun David Greenhough added: “There have been numerous accidents and near misses over the years and myself and my Penistone West colleagues get frequent reports from residents about yet another vehicle ending up in their garden.
“Initial plans were drawn up which remodelled the junction to clearly define turning priorities on and off the main road to reduce accidents.
“Since then we have heard nothing, despite frequent emails to the highways team to ask for updates.
“The other planned improvements connected to this grant have moved forward, which we’re thankful for, especially near the school.
“This project is already funded, so the hold-up now is putting road users at risk.”
Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, told the Chronicle that ‘alternatives’ are now being explored.
“Whilst many road safety improvements have been introduced over the last few years along the A628, we’ve unfortunately not been able to reach an agreement with the landowner to acquire the land required at Fulshaw Cross to progress the scheme to completion.
“We are now exploring an alternative design which aims to resolve these long-standing issues and enable the revised scheme to be delivered in full.
“We’re committed to improving road safety across Barnsley, and we’ve already delivered a number of improvements along the A628 between Penistone and Flouch.
“This includes 20mph signs on the approaches to the primary school, reducing the speed limit at Millhouse Green and installing pedestrian safety measures and parking restrictions in certain areas.”
