PLANNING permission is being sought to create a new 72-space car park in Goldthorpe.

If approved, the new car park will be created on a derelict site - the former tennis court within the Welfare Park.

It’s hoped that the car park will help nearby organisations - including Dearne and District Football Club - to grow.

A report states: “The car park will transform an unused and neglected space into much needed car parking relief to reduce curbside and grass verge parking in Welfare Park and the surrounding area from the patrons of the Dearne Playhouse, Dearne and District Football Club, Goldthorpe Lift Centre, and the I Know I Can Youth Centre.

“In 2021, a public consultation activity was held engaging with residents, park users and service users at the I Know I Can Centre to understand what they would like to see from the site.

“The outcome of this consultation identified the need to improve the parking facilities within the park as well as giving people a purpose to use the park such as seating, play equipment and artwork which will be addressed as part of the wider Welfare Park refurbishment works.

“Play equipment has been installed to the south-east of the site next to the MUGA (multi-use games area) fulfilling this request.

“As part of the wider refurbishment to Welfare Park public art will be installed by working with local artists and the community.

“Following the refurbishment works to the Dearne Playhouse they are working to diversify their programme to wider the reach of the playhouse which will attract patrons from further afield therefore further increasing the number of parking spaces required.”

A total of 14 neighbouring properties have been made aware of the plans with no appeals to date.

Public consultation ends on September 13.