A LOCAL councillor has challenged the council’s slogan of being ‘the place of possibilities’ after being told the local authority will not do anything to support residents on a street referred to as ‘no man’s land’.
Residents living around the Dillington Terrace area say they have been forgotten about in recent years - with the area becoming a fly-tipping haven filled with rubbish and vermin.
The area began to fall into disrepair following the liquidation of the firm which built the Highstone View estate.
Couns Phil Wright and Steve Bullcock, of the Kingstone ward, investigated residents’ concerns and found that part of the land is now under the Crown’s estate control.
Coun Wright told the Chronicle that the council do not want to take responsibility or expense for carrying out repairs to the site which they do not own - ultimately leaving locals in ‘no man’s land’.
He quizzed Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, at last week’s Full Council meeting - jesting that the town’s slogan for the area should instead be ‘the place of impossibilities’.
A petition, which garnered more than 250 signatures calling for the council to undertake work in the area, has led to very little.
Coun Bullcock said: “This council proudly boasts on all their literature, ‘Barnsley - The Place of Possibilities’, yet, after 14 years of continuing neglect and an ever worsening environmental eyesore for the residents who live adjacent to the land near Dillington Terrace, Worsbrough Common.
“What are the ‘possibilities’ that this council is going to provide to improve this piece of land for the people who live in this area of Barnsley?”
Coun Higginbottom said it is not the council’s responsibility.
He added: “The issues with the land near Dillington Terrace remain unresolved as the adjoining wall has partially collapsed onto council land and it is not the council’s responsibility to maintain the wall.
“The wall forms part of land owned by a company which went into administration, making the Crown the legal owner.
“However, the Crown disclaimed the land, meaning it has no liability for its upkeep or to manage it as an owner.
“The effect of removing the materials which have fallen onto council land are unknown without substantial investigations being undertaken.
“We have been advised not to take on the responsibility for maintaining the land as doing so would mean we would effectively become or be considered owners of it, which would mean taking on significant and unnecessary liabilities.
“The area affected has been fenced off for public safety.”
Coun Bullcock used his supplementary question to ask if the council would commit to support the area using funding, though this request was denied.
Locals have reported that the once well-maintained space has now become an eyesore, overtaken by weeds and neglect.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The overgrown land is more than just an inconvenience,
“It’s become a breeding ground for pests and has significantly decreased the aesthetic appeal of our neighbourhood.
“We’ve raised these concerns with the council, but nothing seems to be done.”
