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Westminster day for school’s youngsters
A LOCAL MP welcomed children from a Barnsley primary school to Westminster last week.
Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, invited children from Thurlstone Primary School and gave them a tour around Parliament.
She is encouraging any other schools who would like a similar visit to get in touch.
She said: “I grew up near this beautiful village and loved welcoming pupils from Thurlstone Primary School to Westminster.
“Thank you to the Palace of...
Micky’s boxing club going the distance
FOR three decades now a community boxing club has provided a place for youngsters to go.
Micky’s Athletic Boxing Club has had a nomadic existence with bases in Wombwell, Wath, Mexborough and now back in their native Brampton.
Run by the Wale family, their home at the former Cortonwood Miners’ Welfare is now secured and has become a big part of the community.
The main aim is to give youngsters a place to get healthy,...
Glancing Back to March 1995
Chief reporter Jack Tolson takes a look at what was making the news thirty years ago in March 1995.
MUMS AND TOTS’ ARMY IN FIGHT TO SAVE LOVED FARM
A MASSIVE mums-and-tots rebellion has been launched by fears that Wigfield Farm is high on Barnsley Council’s budget-cutting list.
‘Save Our Farm’ petitions are now circling and at least 2,000 names were collected at the weekend.
The petitions were suggested by Barnsley West and Penistone MP,...
Young Champions: Send in your nominations before it's too late!
OUR Young Champions awards for 2025 have been running for three months now and the deadline to nominate your talented youngsters is fast approaching.
It has been another incredible year for the awards, after we brought them back in 2024, and it’s safe to say that there’s already a lot of talent on display with those we’ve put forward.
But there’s always room for more and we’re continuing our search for anyone under...
Unanimous support for MP’s bill amendments
A BARNSLEY MP who is campaigning for stronger safeguards for disabled people in a ground-breaking new bill for terminally ill adults has secured unanimous support.
Marie Tidball’s new amendments to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, to ensure their voices are central to end-of-life care discussions and decision making-processes, received backing from her peers last week.
This includes Daniel Francis MP and the bill’s sponsor, Kim Leadbeater MP, following a debate as part
Programmes credited with fall in hospital admissions
THE number of monthly hospital admissions from care homes has dropped by almost half over the last three years, it has been revealed.
The South West Yorkshire NHS Partnership Trust (SWYPT) say the significant decline - which has been recorded from January 2022 to January 2025 - can be attributed to work with the organisations’s partners.
The reduction in hospital admissions follows the implementation of several work programmes involving GP practices, Barnsley Health Care Federation,...
New details emerge on £5m business support package
MORE details of plans to support hundreds of hospitality and retail venues across Barnsley have been revealed ahead of a cabinet meeting next week.
The £5m scheme, which was officially unveiled at a full council meeting last month, will see small businesses who are forecast to face a tough period have their business rates waived in order to save job cuts.
It will be funded through surplus business rates collected nationally and locally over the...
High hopes for hospice’s fundraising stunt
LOCALS are being encouraged to take part in a special fundraising event for Barnsley Hospice - and you’ll be 100 feet in the air.
On Saturday, May 17, supporters of the hospice will be abseiling down Barnsley College’s Old Mill Lane campus.
It’s over 100 feet in the air - and it could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to descend the iconic red building.
Registration for the event is £50 and those taking part must raise...
Tommy proud to take on ambassador role for charity
A YOUNG boy with a limb difference has not let his disability limit him as he has proudly become an ambassador for others living with similar conditions.
Tommy Dengel was born missing part of his right arm, including his hand and a section below the elbow.
While he now has an advanced myoelectric arm, which responds to muscle signals to function close to the real thing, life hasn’t always been easy for the youngster, and...
Glancing Back to March 1979
Chronicle chief reporter Jack Tolson takes a look back to what was making the news in March 1979.
THEY SAY HE’S MAD BUT PAUL STICKS TO UNITED TRAIL
His friends say he’s mad but that doesn’t stop 21-year-old Paul Govier following his favourite football team whenever it plays.
Paul, Spring Street, Barnsley, is a Manchester United supporter, and over the past six years has missed only three games and they were all played away.
In...
Long fight over buses is won
A LANDMARK move which will bring buses back under public control to address years of route cuts and unreliable services has finally been agreed.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, took the ‘once-in-a-generation’ decision following a meeting on Tuesday.
Described as the biggest shake-up of the local bus network since the 1980s, Mr Coppard was told almost 8,000 passengers had their say in a 12-week public consultation about the plan, with 87 per cent in support....
Vandal attack ‘saddens’ schools
TWO local schools are calling for the support of Barnsley residents after a ‘distressing act of vandalism’ that occurred at their shared building recently.
Forest Academy and Springwell Alternative Academy both share the same school building on Thornton Road in Kendray over the weekend of March 8 and 9.
Both schools have asked local residents for their support to help a ‘cornerstone’ of the community which cares for vulnerable children.
Natalie Myers, head of Springwel
What are your favourite town centre memories?
Everyone has their own memories of the town centre. We’ve dug out some old photos of Eldon Street from years gone by.
From the hustle and bustle outside the Civic, to forgotten trades like Iron mongering - it certainly was, and still is, one of the most popular destinations in the centre.
How do you remember the area?
Pictures: The Tasker Trust.
Councillors join the battle for road safety
THREE local councillors have backed residents’ concerns around road safety and have called on Barnsley Council to do something now ‘rather than waiting for a serious incident to occur’.
Darton East councillors Dickie Denton, Steve Hunt and Leyla Nayeri - all of whom are members of the Liberal Democrat party - have launched a petition for changes to be implemented on Limes Avenue in Staincross.
They say that residents have been in contact regarding concerns...
Libraries’ service ‘one of the best in the north’
BARNSLEY Libraries has been named as one of the best in the north of England in the 2025 British Book Awards.
The council service has been named as a Regional and Country finalist for Library of the Year, an award which launched last year and celebrates the vital role that public libraries play in our communities.
Barnsley Libraries were highlighted among 36 other libraries across the country.
Coun Wendy Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health...
Young dancer goes toe-to-toe with rivals twice her age
A YOUNG dancer who competes against people twice her age has discovered a passion that will carry her throughout the rest of her life.
While she may only be six years old, Amelia Rose Nelson hasn’t let her age hold her back as she competes across the country taking home more medals than the family have space for.
And her talent may be in the family, as she follows in the footsteps of her mother,...
Teenagers stripped of benefits
HUNDREDS of Barnsley teenagers with complex needs have been stripped of their disability benefits after their 16th birthday despite being in receipt of vital payments throughout their childhood, shocking new statistics obtained by the Chronicle have revealed.
New Department of Work and Pensions figures reveal about 600 young adults - who had received child disability living allowance (DLA) before attempting to move onto the personal independence payment (PIP) structure - were rejected.
The DLA
‘Open booze’ plan set for approval
PLANS to introduce a restriction on having an ‘open container of alcohol’ in a public space are set to be approved by the council.
Barnsley Council’s ruling cabinet members are set to discuss the renewal and continuation of two public space protection orders next week.
PSPOs are in place to help stop antisocial behaviour in public places and to support safety across the town.
First introduced in 2016, the PSPO helps to address and tackle...
Campaigning Claire receives backing from Prime Minister
A BARNSLEY MP has praised the Prime Minister for backing a locally-started law change bid spearheaded by an inspirational mother who lost her two sons in a house fire started by their abusive father.
Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, spoke about the horrific murders of Jack and Paul Sykes, from Penistone, in 2014, when their dad Paul set fire to their house during a court-granted, unsupervised access visit.
Sykes had a known history...
Frank finally receives Proud of Barnsley award
ILLNESS, delays and snow kept Proud of Barnsley winner Frank Senior from receiving his trophy - but now it’s finally been delivered.
Following a stroke in 2011, Frank was diagnosed with aphasia, a crippling disorder that affected his ability to speak, read, write and understand language.
For years he was trapped inside his own body, unable to express himself or communicate with the people closest to him.
Yet, his determination shone through, and thanks to...