Chronicle chief reporter JACK TOLSON took a look back through the Chronicle archives to see what was making the news in 1977.
THE BARNSLEY OF THE FUTURE
BETTER shopping facilities, an attractive town centre and more jobs are promised by Barnsley Council in an exhibition at the Central Library.
The proposals also provide for extension of the education service, transport improvements and development of recreation and entertainment facilities.
Following an exhibition last October of alternative proposals for future development in the town centre, the council has set out in the exhibition the preferred alternative.
Coun Harry Dancer, chairman of the council’s development and planning committee, said: “The town centre plan has now been amended to take account of public comment following the last exhibition and is now being considered by the various committees of the council.”
Coun Dancer said it was expected that the South Yorkshire County Council’s structure plan will be approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment in about 18 months’ time.
The Barnsley Town Centre Local Plan will then enter the final stage of public participation.
“The plan will be displayed in full and every opportunity will be given for formal comment or objection,” Coun Dancer added.
“However, anyone wishing to make any comment or observation at this stage should get in contact with the borough architect.
“He will be pleased to hear from them.”
LOCAL BUGLER WINS AWARD
BARNSLEY area solider Bugler John ‘Sparrow’ Thornton was presented with the Commanding Officer’s prize after winning the bugle competition in Germany recently.
John, whose parents live in Shafton, is serving with the 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry, and beat all other members of the Battalion Bugle Platoon.
He was presented with the prize by the then Divisional Brigadier - now General Officer Commanding North West District - Major General PFA Sibbald, who was visiting the unit.
John’s wife Angela, an ex-pupil of Cudworth Secondary Modern School, is with him in Germany.
Since joining the Light Infantry in 1971, John’s travels have taken him to Germany and Belgium, alongside his cousin Graham, who also serves in the 2nd Battalion.
£2M INVESTMENT IN BARNSLEY FACTORY
AS part of a major expansion in tennis ball production, Dunlop’s International Sports Company is undertaking a £2m investment programme at its factory in Barnsley.
The programme is designed to meet the rapidly growing demand for tennis balls, the world-wide consumption of which, in 1976, reach 170 million.
In the last five years, the company has already increased tennis ball production by 60 per cent, and the new investment is designed to expand capacity by a further 33 per cent.
While the Barnsley factory consistently exports 80 per cent of its production, the Dunlop Group also operates seven other tennis ball factories throughout the world in order to keep pace with the international growth in the popularity of tennis.
