New hope for road safety plans in Penistone town centre

Penistone Town Council has long wanted changes in the busy High Street and Market Street areas, with previous ideas including a 20 mph zone and the introduction of a new pelican crossing.

Neither have moved forwards, but councillors have now agreed to start talks with their colleagues who represent the area on Barnsley Council.

They are hopeful that a slice of money allocated to the area under a Principal Towns agreement could by siphoned off for the road improvements.

Barnsley Council has set £5million aside to improve areas like Penistone and a blueprint for those changes has now been approved by the authority's ruling cabinet.

They will include major schemes including an upgrade to the town hall and Penistone Paramount cinema building next door alongside other projects to make the town centre more appealing.

A new pelican crossing was promised when a 'square-about' one way system was introduced in the heart of the town, but was never installed.

Technical problems caused by the number of underground services at the point where it would be placed were blamed for the decision to abandon it.

Town councillors will now study a report produced by Councillor Andrew Millner, who unit this year represented the Penistone West ward on Barnsley Council.

That contains details of some specific suggestions, though they will remain confidential as discussions with Barnsley Council progress.