Works will start in Wombwell today as part of a multi-million investment programme to transform the High Street into a “cleaner, safer and a more enjoyable place for people to visit”.
Wombwell will receive funding from Barnsley Council as part of the principal towns and local village centres programme.
Barnsley Council has committed to investing £35 million into the programme to carry out improvements in the surrounding towns.
James Higginbottom, Labour Councillor for Wombwell said: “It’s about making the place a cleaner, safer, more enjoyable area for people to visit to shop and use the market. A more attractive heart of community in the short term.”
Some of the improvements taking place include regrading the pavements around the bus stops where there are flooding issues, as well as investing into making the high street more accessible for wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs.
The council is also investing in more electrical charging points, covers and stalls for market traders.
Mr Higginbottom added: “I do want to stress that this is about a longer term piece of investment that will look at the repurposing of buildings, and some really exciting longer term work around making best use of the assets that we’ve got on the high street.
“Whilst at the same time investing in the cultural offering and green spaces that we’ve got to build stronger and more vibrant local economies.”
The town has already seen the benefits of the programme, with investment being used to improve CCTV coverage on the High Street, as well as a shop front grant scheme.
Mr Higginbottom said: ”Over 60 shops have taken advantage of the scheme. It has been so popular that we were having to reassess his options in terms of how much money we’re able to put into it.
“It’s been very popular and it gives people a bit of a buzz if they see that the shops are getting a new look. It’s giving the high street a fresh feel.”
“I hope that that will have that direct economic benefit in terms of creating jobs and supporting business start-ups.”
In the coming years the scheme aims to renovate buildings in Wombwell and add to the Transpennine Trail.
The Labour Councillor has also called on local residents to be patient with some short-term disruption.
He said: “We are working as hard as we possibly can to keep the disruption to a minimum. Most of the work will take place at night so we don’t have an impact on businesses and on market traders.
“All I would say to people is bear with us. A couple of weeks of potential pain and disruption will be far outweighed by the economic and social benefits that we’ll see.”
“This is a really exciting thing. We’ll be shouting about it from the rooftops.”
