A ‘DANGEROUS’ footpath which locals refused to use due to it being unlit has been put right thanks to a four-year campaign from councillors.

Residents around Oak Farm Drive in Darton have long called for improved street lights on a footpath which connects the street to Inglewood.

Having been at a stand-off with Barnsley Council - whose ruling cabinet members rejected a petition for action in 2022 - cash ring-fenced for the Love Where You Live scheme has allowed lighting to be erected.

Councillor Dickie Denton said: “I am pleased and proud that we have been able we have been able to do this, especially as the darker evenings are upon us.

“For too long this footpath has had no lighting and has been a source of concern for residents, with many choosing not to use it because of their fears.

“With the new lights it is a much safer place.

“As councillors we are committed to fighting for the funds that will make our ward a safer place for all.

“I would like to thank the residents who have supported the campaign with tenacity and council workers for the swift installation of the lighting over the past few weeks.

“We will continue to campaign to make Darton East a safer place for residents in any way we can.”

The council’s highways maintenance programme - which totals about £17m up to 2027 - resulted in £1.2m being allocated to street lighting.

This has now trickled down to the Darton East ward, where ‘common sense has prevailed’, according to councillors, who were on hand to see the lighting being switched on last week.

Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and transport, said the local authority remains committed to improving its footpaths and roads.

He told the Chronicle: “Barnsley Council is investing around £17m into the highway network, including an extra £2m allocated through this year’s balanced budget.

“Despite the national challenge, we are committed to chipping away at the backlog and investing in our borough as the programme demonstrates.

“Repairing roads, investing in communities, unlocking economic opportunities that is what the council is committed to doing.

“We’ve modernised our lighting with LEDs and have considerably improved our energy efficiency as a result.

“We were using 14.4 million kilowatt hours of power annually but that’s decreased by 65 per cent.

“Community safety is at absolute forefront of this idea and it will be carefully considered by cabinet at the appropriate time.”(