The Glassworks

slightly o/t -

each time I drive up Harborough Hills - usually in the early morning I am struck that the Glassworks is architecturally a fantastic building.
Similarly with the Penny-Pie gyratory - when completed and the central area grassed it will look amazing.

 

I think the new Glassworks project has/will put some much needed improvements in to the town.

However, I also think the proposals to build housing etc etc on Court House car parks is unbelievably daft. Millions spent on Encouraging shoppers to use the town centre then close the best, nearest car park to it for a 'quick profit' is beyond belief imo.

 

They are building a multi-storey on there, but there will be a loss in overall spaces. The whole idea of bringing housing into town centres is to reduce the need to travel by car. The problem we have with most towns up north is extremely poor public transport and lack of alternative options. There are lots of similar schemes around the country and the big focus in all of them will be active travel schemes.

 

Freddiel, do you know what the current state of play is with the proposed footbridge at Pogmoor Rec/Penny Pie Park?

 

Never heard of 200 coffee but there shops look decent on their website, always hoped Caffe’ Nero would open as there Coffee is better than Starbucks wnd Costa but I tend to go independent anyway, Old George, used to go to Daddy Beanz but some of the owners political stuff in lockdown massively put me off.

 

Also wouldn’t worry too much about losing spaces in the Court House the master plan is dated to 2045 I think

 

I know the reasoning behind it but on a personal basis I like the openess of surface car parks. When I was much younger I didn't much mind multi storey's, but now I'm not that happy - like late at night after a night out or cinema trip. Can't see who's lurking.
As for active travel schemes, I couldn't push a bike up some of the hills around Barnsley never mind ride one with bags of shopping and fruit n veg from the market, to then travel 10 miles home .
Unfortunately Barnsley hasn't the topography of places like York, Oxford, or any other mainly flat place usually quoted by the 'ban the car' folk to bring in car free centres. Barnsley has many out lying places with (as you say) poor public transport, so cars are really the only option for them. In my humble opinion of course .

 

Talking of parking, I've just been just been talking to a mate about traffic at the hell that is Gawber Road in the early afternoon for hospital visiting.

Would it not be possible, even profitable, for a park and ride system to be used in town (and possibly to the hospital).

We've got the perfect car park for it at Oakwell going spare most of the day, most days of the week.

 

https://www.wearebarnsley.com/news/10785/has-a-cure-been-found-for-hospitals-parking

 

I think it recently got planning approval from BMBC.

 

That's interesting but seems pointless when we have something already (not sure if it actually happened either)

 

It has been crying out for re development dont get me wrong but to such an extent that it is millions and millions over budget? Where's the extra funding come from? It is going to take a very long time to pay this off.

 

The last time I was in Barnsley was August 2019, to celebrate my 60th with the family. I usually get back at least once per year, but the plague put a halt to that. However, it looks like my next trip is getting closer. I’m looking forward to seeing these exciting developments.

 

Sure you’ll be impressed.
I hope in the next 12 months. Coach trips are made from other towns as they used to be. Will surely be worth the day trippers popping in.
Bury market seems to do well.

 

Will let you into a little BBS members only secret, Helen. Take all your family to the restaurant of your choice and get a slap up meal and all you can physically drink. Then when they bring the bill, tell them to stick it on Bossman’s tab.

 

I have to agree with you on both schemes, I drive through the new gyratory every day and I think both parks will look great when there both open

 

I guess how much it’s ‘over budget’ depends on which budgets you’re comparing.

There’s the £41m “Remaking Barnsley” proposal from 2014 that was essentially a budget to demolish the old council buildings and refurb the met centre.

Then there’s the 2017 estimated Glassworks budget of £120m which had a different design and didn’t include any other public realm improvements or Market Gate Bridge.

There’s the 2018 updated Glassworks budget of £178.1m which increased the overall size and design of the development and also included the public realm improvements.

I could go on…

If you’re really angry with the council then you could, theoretically, put forward an argument to say the council overspent by £170m - but what we would’ve got for £41m isn’t what we’ve ended up with for £210m, nor is it remotely close.

With regards to funding, you can probably submit a freedom of information request to the council for a breakdown. I’d guess it’s probably a mix of prudential borrowing, reserves, and grants.

 

It should be coming soon.

 

Think it has been approved and will be much used by the Horizon pupils from Pogmoor/Gawber.

o/t why don't schoolchildren wear a warm/waterproof coat in bad weather ?