Compulsory purchase considered for roundabout plan

Councillors will be urged to approve the use of compulsory purchase powers to obtain land for a road improvement scheme in Barnsley.

The A635/A633 Stairfoot Improvement scheme would see the roundabout enlarged to provide three continuous traffic lanes and increase capacity on several of its approaches.

If approved on 9 September, it would enable Barnsley Council to acquire the land necessary to deliver the project, though details of the affected plots have not been published.

The council said the project was intended to reduce delays and vehicle idling while supporting future housing and employment growth.

Plans also include straightening the approach from Wombwell Lane and Bleachcroft Way and widening the Grange Lane entry and exit.

Existing bus lanes on Doncaster Road and Bleachcroft Way would be converted into general traffic lanes, with a bus lay-by provided on Bleachcroft Way.

The project would also replace the existing Trans Pennine Trail bridge over Grange Lane, widen footways and improve crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

Its final design was published in March following a public consultation held in January 2024, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council said it had responded to concerns about congestion, pollution and the impact of new housing on the road network by redesigning the junction approaches and improving walking and cycling routes.

The project is being funded through Barnsley's allocation from the government's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

A cabinet report is expected to identify the land required for the scheme, the progress of negotiations with owners, and whether the acquisition process will affect the construction timetable, as the project was due to start later this summer.

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