A MAN who appealed against Barnsley Council’s decision to refuse planning permission has been refused consent by a government body.

Richard Crossland had sought to build five properties of Dodworth Road but was knocked back due to highways concerns and the impacts on neighbouring residents.

An appeal was subsequently lodged by Mr Crossland with the Planning Inspectorate which, if it’s found that the rejection was unfair, has the power to overturn a local authority’s decision and grant consent.

However, highways safety was again the crux of the appeal being thrown out.

A report said: “Dodworth Road is a principal arterial route with a 30mph speed limit, connecting junction 37 of the M1 motorway with Barnsley town centre.

“It experiences very high traffic volumes, with the most recent data indicating an average annual daily flow exceeding 28,500 vehicles.

“This section of the A628 is highly sensitive due to its proximity to junction 37 and the associated lane-changing movements that occur as vehicles exit the roundabout and filter towards Barnsley, the hospital, and the A6133.

“I note that the speed survey included in the appellant’s transport note also shows that average and 85th percentile speeds are higher in the two lane, north-eastbound direction, where vehicles accelerate away from the roundabout, than in the single lane, south-westbound direction where traffic typically slows on the approach to it.

“This means that right-turning vehicles entering the site from the north-eastbound direction may need to wait stationary in the offside lane at a point where following vehicles are still gaining speed and where available gaps between approaching vehicles are compressed.

“In my view, this combination of higher approach speeds and limited gap availability materially reduces the opportunity for vehicles to cross the opposing carriageway safely and increases the potential for conflict with approaching traffic.

“The plans demonstrate that adequate visibility splays could be achieved at the site access.

“However, while this may assist drivers emerging from the private drive in seeing approaching traffic, it does not overcome the more fundamental constraints associated with the speed and volume of traffic on this section of the A628, or the difficulty in finding sufficiently long gaps to undertake right-turning manoeuvres safely.”