28 August, 2009
JOHN HEALEY APPROVES £2.3M DEARNE PLAN
LOCAL MP John Healey, in his role as housing minister, has announced that the Dearne will receive £2.3 million to improve transport links.
It is part of £30 million going to projects across the country aimed at supporting the building of much-needed extra homes for first time buyers, families and people on waiting lists.
It follows the £1.5 billion housing pledge Mr Healey made earlier this month, to build an additional 20,000 new affordable energy efficient homes over the next two years – and a further 10,000 homes for open market sale through the private sector.
Building work is due to start in the coming months and is part of the pledge to use government investment to keep projects going and create jobs as we steer our way through the recession.
Mr Healey said: “We need to ensure that people and families living in new homes have the transport links they need, whether this is a new road, new bus links or cycle paths.
“This £30m boost for councils places them at the centre of supporting homes, jobs and growth, which is good news for the local area.”
Twelve schemes across the country will receive funding under the Community Infrastructure Fund – including the Dearne Valley Improvement Package.
Included are plans to:
• create cycling and walking links between Dearne towns (Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton-on-Dearne) and where people live and work, bus and train stops and stations, schools and other services
• improve roads and Barnsley Council’s ‘intelligent traffic systems’ to cut congestion and encourage the use of public transport
• create an off-road cycle track between Manvers park and Bolton-upon-Dearne
Work will take place between now and spring 2011.