BARNSLEY Council’s ‘home-to-school’ transport service could be moved from its current site in Smithies due to ‘health and safety issues’.

Planning permission is being sought to turn the John Street car park, just outside the town centre, into an interim base for the service.

If the plans are approved, a total of 70 mini buses and 12 staff will be situated at the car park.

They are currently based at the Smithies depot, but the move is considered necessary due to capacity and health and safety issues.

A report states that those working at the depot are working in ‘increasingly confined spaces’.

Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and transport, told the Chronicle: “Our home-to-school transport service is vital for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

“We’re increasing the number of vehicles and bringing more routes in-house rather than outsourcing.

“This is to ensure the service is delivered reliably to families and is also cost-effective.

“However, we’re already running short of space at our Smithies Depot and it’s important our other services including waste and recycling and highways have the space to operate safely.

“This has become even more crucial since the launch of our Be Safe, Work Safe, Target Zero programme as all waste and recycling staff now start and finish from the depot.

“That’s why, subject to planning permission being approved, we’re proposing to repurpose the underused car park for a temporary period of up to five years to create an interim home-to-school depot.

“If approved, car park users will be directed to other car parks in and around the town centre where there is additional capacity.”

Public consultation ends on April 1.