PLANS to remove parking spaces at a town centre car park in order to construct an urban park with three giant ‘Yorkshire Roses’ sculptures have been approved.

The proposals - which went before Barnsley Council’s planning board on Tuesday - will see the permanent loss of 181 parking spaces in the southern section of the car park on County Way.

The remaining area of car park will provide 235 standard parking bays, 12 accessible bays and 39 electric vehicle bays after its remodel.

It will be closed for 42 weeks while works take place, according to the council.

The statues will be funnel shaped, widening out into a flower-like feature at the top.

They will feature patterned steelwork, that mirrors various weave threads, coal mining seams, veins of white rose petals and stamens.

The central statue will stand at 15 metres high, with the other two standing at 12 metres tall.

Coun Phil Lofts said that the site now was ‘a bit of an eyesore’, meaning the planned changes were ‘nothing but positive’, while Coun Trevor Smith said that this application was ‘outstanding’ and that it came at ‘the right place and right time’.

They will cost around £2.5m to build, leading to some - including Coun David Greenhough - to question the cost.

He added: “When people can’t feed their kids this is not something that Barnsley should have.

“Funding may not be an issue but try telling that to the people of Barnsley.”