Barnsley housing development given green light

The site off Roughbirchworth Lane, Oxspring, was made available for housing under Barnsley Council’s Local Plan development blueprint.

This meant that rejecting the application would have been difficult on traffic grounds because no objections were raised by highways officials when the site was included in the local plan.

Some residents believe the work will affect the main nesting tree for a rookery on the site - an issue raised by former Councillor John Wade BEM before his recent death.

A speaker who attended to raise such concerns told councillors that he was there to represent Mr Wade, who had been an ‘ambassador’ for the village.

Ten letters of objection were considered by planners, along with five in support of the scheme and they recommended it was approved.

A report said an ecology area would be retained on site and most trees would be retained, with those to be lost of limited value.

Coun Dave Greenhough said Roughbirchworth Lane had become increasingly busy as a route for motorists to the Fox Valley shopping centre and the A628, had a bridge on a double bend near the site and was used for street parking by existing residents, reducing the carriageway to single track in effect.

Board members voted to approve the application.