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Assisted living complex a ‘complete mess’
ELDERLY and disabled residents at an assisted living housing complex that’s become a ‘complete mess’ have been left to deal with rubbish, weeds and nettles themselves - despite the site generating around £9,000 in fees.
Upkeep at the Yorkshire Housing site on St Hilda’s Close, Thurnscoe, has declined so much that residents are forced to do their own gardening or get outside help - rather than relying on staff who reportedly go weeks without visiting....
Council’s overspend revealed
THE ‘significant’ financial strain of the Covid-19 pandemic left Barnsley Council with a £22m overspend, documents into the local authority’s finances have revealed.
According to the report, discussed by ruling cabinet members on Wednesday, the biggest overspend was in the adults and communities department, which reported a black hole of £6.7m.
A further £3m was spent in ‘outbreak control’ costs, £6.7m in support to the care market, and £5m in business support, PPE and insurance
Concerns over youngsters’ safety on danger road...
A CONCERNED headteacher has joined forces with a councillor in an attempt to boost safety on a road used by hundreds of pupils a day - after a girl was struck by a bus last week.
Paul Crook, of Penistone Grammar School, believes Monday’s incident, on Huddersfield Road, could have been avoided if highways bosses had heeded long-running calls to take action.
He’s since joined forces with Coun David Greenhough, who represents the Penistone West...
Diamond couple mark anniversary
A MONK Bretton couple who have spent the majority of their life together will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary this week.
Joan and Dennis Whitham, 78 and 80 respectively, of Clarence Road, were married on October 14, 1961.
Having met at the New Road Club in Mapplewell, they’ll celebrate 60 years of marriage together on Thursday.
They have had four children together - Mark, Steven, Andrew and Dawn.
They’ve got nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren....
Fed-up school leaders to walk out over speeding concerns
A WALK-OUT at a school that’s directly next to a dangerous 40mph road - where children regularly gamble with their lives - will take place this afternoon to raise awareness of the dangers reckless motorists pose to pupils.
Helen Handley, a governor at Oakhill Primary Academy, off Doncaster Road, Ardsley, has particular cause to highlight those dangers after her son Logan was the victim of a hit-and-run last year.
Logan, seven, thankfully just has scars...
Council leader: Barnsley ‘ignored’ in budget
THE leader of Barnsley Council believes the town has been ‘ignored’ in the government’s supposed ‘levelling-up’ agenda after the 2021 budget was announced on Wednesday.
Sir Steve Houghton described Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget - revealed on Wednesday - as a ‘curate’s egg’.
Giving his first thoughts on the ‘make-or-break’ spending review and budget, Steve said: “I welcome increasing the national living and minimum wage.
“I also welcome changes in the taper for Univ
Popular buskers moved on...
A POPULAR busking duo - who’ve raised thousands for a seriously ill youngster and his family - can’t fathom why they were ordered to move a few metres away from their town centre spot.
Wednesday was a typical morning for Barnsdale Hood, a traditional Irish folk duo who have been a regular sight in the town centre for more than a year.
Banjo player Alan Jones and guitarist Dave Alton have taken on the task...
MiCard saved but fee increases
THE MiCard discount travel scheme for young people has been saved but the cost per journey is to increase by 10p.
Ruling cabinet members are expected to give the move approval today, with it due to take effect on June 1.
MiCard currently allows those up to 18 to travel on buses for 30p, including weekends.
The report says MiCard will continue to be available to young people up to the age of 18 who...
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Suspended sentence for ram-raid burglar
A MAN who committed two ram-raid style burglaries at separate Barnsley shops has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Shane William Greenwood appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary at a previous hearing.
The court was told he committed two ram raids within minutes of each other causing thousands of pounds damage. He used a vehicle to break into the Costcutter store at Mapplewell stealing...
Festive tree causes a headache
FIREMEN had a struggle to erect a 25-foot Christmas tree in St Mary’s Church, Barnsley.
First they abandoned the task on receiving an emergency call, and then, when six of them managed to get the tree upright, it went through the bottom of the bin.
The tree has been erected for the hospice's Light A Life ceremonies in church at 3.30pm and 7.30pm on Sunday. Each light on the tree is sponsored in memory of...
Angler raises more than £2k for breast cancer unit
MORE than £2,000 has been raised for Barnsley Hospital’s breast cancer unit by a local angler after his partner was diagnosed with the disease.
John Turner, 60, of Pogmoor, organised the Fish for Breast Cancer event at The Fleets last Wednesday which saw more than 50 anglers take part.
John’s partner, who did not want to be named, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. She has undergone surgery and chemotherapy.
John had hoped to...
Couple donate money to save couple’s horses
STRANGERS have given a Barnsley couple £3,000 so they don’t have to get rid of their horses.
The kind gesture was made by Malcolm and Christine Hodgson after they had read about the plight of Jackie Whitfield and John Chappell, who were going to have to give up their grazing plot after the rent went up from £300 to £2,250 - to bring it in line to reflect market rent rates, the council said.
The...
Police warning after fatal drug stolen from ambulance
POLICE have launched an investigation after vials of a dangerous drug were stolen from an ambulance in Barnsley last night.
The Epinephrine - which is in a long purple box - was stolen from an ambulance on Queens Drive in Barnsley Tuesday evening but the drug could be fatal if it is ingested or injected.
Police say five vials were stolen, four have been located but one is still missing.
If anyone finds the vial...
RBL members stop off at school
ORIGINAL plans to hold a Remembrance Day event with the Royal British Legion at a Barnsley high school have been put on hold - but that didn’t stop members making a scaled-down visit.
Two members of the RBL - which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year - attended Horizon Community College on Tuesday to rekindle their partnership after pandemic restrictions have meant no large-scale events have been held there for almost two years.
RBL members...
OCGs ‘significantly disrupted’ during crackdown
ORGANISED crime groups peddling drugs in Barnsley’s worst-off communities have been ‘significantly disrupted’ in recent months - with six-figure cash hauls and large quantities of illegal substances being seized by police through targeted crackdowns.
Over the last three months South Yorkshire Police’s taskforce - Operation Fortify - have executed 19 warrants and prosecuted 11 people linked to OCGs.
A tip-off about cannabis plants in the vacant BrightHouse premises on Market Street, Bar
Harry’s son vows to continue his father’s work
THE SON of a Barnsley-born war veteran who became a famous political campaigner in his 90s told the Chronicle he will continue his dad’s work following his death this week.
Harry Leslie Smith, 95, became famous after speaking and writing about growing up poor before the age of the NHS, and his fears for the NHS today. He was admitted into hospital last Tuesday in Canada, where he was staying with his son John, 54,...
Textile specialist aims to fuse skills to revive town
MARTIN Hopkins wants to bring back traditional making skills to the borough and create new jobs under the banner ‘Made in Barnsley’.
The fabric and textile specialist says he’s had enough of ‘pound shops’ and seeing empty retail units in the town centre and wants to give Barnsley a future by fusing digital and traditional skills to create fabric products that can be sold to the public.
Martin, a former illustrator, only uses materials made...
Farmer's bid to ban BOMfest
A FARMER lodged a last-ditch legal attempt to get tomorrow's BomFest music festival halted because of fears revellers would inadvertently harm his animals.
The festival, which has three separate stages, takes place from noon until 2am Sunday and for the first time will be staged at Silverwood scout camp, Silkstone.
But instead of doing last minute promotional work, organisers were in court on Tuesday after their licence was challenged by farmer Philip Charlesworth.
Up to...
Kids give Olympic skier a grilling
AN OLYMPIC skier took on her biggest challenge yet when she talked to children from Hoyland about her skiing exploits.
Paralympian Joe Willoughby answered an avalanche of questions from the youngsters at West Meadows Primary on Tuesday.
Teacher Kelda Evans said s-now questions fazed the Super-G champion.
She said: "Joe answered all sorts of questions from how she got into the bath to what she ate when she was in training. There was nothing she...
Arrest made after two women stabbed
TWO women have reportedly been stabbed at a house in Cudworth, with a man arrested in connection with the incident.
Police were called to a property in Church Street at around 1am today (Sunday, December 12) and said a woman in her 20s, and another in her 40s, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
They confirmed a 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
Officers advise those with information...
