PLANS to install a communication hub which would include a defibrillator in the town centre have been turned down by Barnsley Council due to concerns it would ‘clutter’ the area.

An application for the multifunctional hub to be added on the pavement on May Day Green was originally submitted in November last year.

The proposed hub would have featured an integrated defibrillator, USB charger and wireless charging shelf, phone handset, accessible touchpad, emergency call button, all partially enclosed by a curved canopy with solar panel top and glazed sides.

Similar plans for a unit to be added on Queen Street were approved by the council, though this one was rejected last week.

A report said: “May Day Green and the surrounding streets have been refurbished with works undertaken to improve the public realm.

“This work was aligned with the principles of the strategy which includes a section dedicated to street furniture.

“It states that street furniture will be a key feature in Barnsley and will have a functional role helping to create a distinctive sense of place.

“This proposal for a new hub would introduce additional unnecessary clutter within an otherwise open area of high-quality public realm and given that several approved schemes within the locality for similar development remain capable of being implemented, it is felt the proposal could contribute to harmful cumulative impacts.”