Latest news with #BarnsleyMetropolitanBoroughCouncil
BBC News
30-03-2025
- BBC News
Barnsley teenagers say free bus scheme will make life 'so much easier'
Sixth-form and college students say a scheme offering under-18s free bus travel would make life "so much easier".Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is set to trial the two-year scheme from 1 August, after it makes a final decision on the proposal in a creative media student at Barnsley College, spends £10 a week on bus fares to college and sometimes more to go to Sheffield on his day off, "which adds up".The 17-year-old, who saves up spare change for bus fares, told the BBC: "If buses were free that would be perfect." The scheme applies to those living in the borough for all journeys within South Yorkshire starting or ending in 16, who studies A-level biology, criminology and geography, also spends about £10 a 16-18 Zoom discount card makes single fares £1 for the students who have one."When I lost the card, before the prices went up recently, it cost £20 a week. I think that is a bit too much," Jay said. "I think the scheme will encourage more sustainable travel which is what we need right now."Ben, 16, agreed that the scheme would have a positive impact on the software development student takes the bus into town to see friends and occasionally to go to the cinema, but usually gets a lift into college."If it was free, I would definitely be more likely to get a bus instead," he added."Someone's got to pay for it, but it is a great concept."The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has committed up to £1m to the initiative, with Barnsley Council contributing £5m. The scheme aims to help young people access education and work 17, who works part-time in a butcher's, added that cheaper and easier bus travel could also encourage people to visit the town centre."Instead of the money going on people's travel, they might put it into shops and small businesses," she content creation student said her mum helped her pay the fares, but she still felt paying had limited her ability to save for university."Some people don't have the reliability of parents to send them a tenner a week, so it will help a lot of people, and my mum will probably be thankful," she said. Free travel for just one under-18 could save almost £400 over the course of the school year, or more if they do not have a Zoom Green, a mum-of-two from Barnsley, said: "If [my husband and I] opened an account, and every time we got on the bus, we put the kids' fares in there instead – it would add up."Chelsea Oldham, 27, also has two young children, and travels into Barnsley from the Mexborough area each week to visit her family."I think people with children, especially single mums and dads, they should get discounted or possibly free travel," she said."A bus fare doesn't sound like a lot, but when the kids are flying up in sizes and need a new pair of shoes, that money could go to them." Passes will be valid between 07:00 and 21:00 every day, including at weekends and during school holidays, and will be available to all young people aged five to already travel free of 18, who is studying health and social care at the college, will just miss out on being eligible for the said there could be "a negative impact on 18-year-olds that struggle more with money" but the scheme would still be good for younger students said they thought more capacity might be needed for the scheme, which the council has confirmed the funding will go towards. "They will have to make sure they can accommodate extra people if they make it free," Alex added: "I don't think the impact on most services would be huge, but there might need to be a slightly more frequent bus."The funding will also contribute to the cost of travel concessions, developing smartcard technology and ensuring that there are enough resources to monitor and evaluate the impact of the smartcards will be free, but replacing missing ones will cost a small amount, the council said. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
28-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Barnsley memorial to stillborn babies to be refurbished
A memorial to stillborn babies will be refurbished ahead of the 40th anniversary of its stone monument in Barnsley Cemetery, which was unveiled by then-mayor Alice Wood in July 1986, has become tilted and in need of cleaning in recent Jake Lodge, whose stillborn sister is buried in the cemetery, urged Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to restore the a full council meeting on Thursday, councillors agreed for the work to go ahead. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, James Higginbottom, the council's spokesperson for highways and the environment, said: "The memorial stone in Barnsley Cemetery that commemorates stillborn children is a poignant tribute and a source of comfort to parents and families in the borough who have suffered a hugely traumatic event."Bereavement services will be very happy to work with you, Councillor Lodge, and any other interested parties to refurbish and rededicate the memorial in a suitable way. "Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- BBC News
Free Barnsley bus passes to get under-18s to school or work
Under-18s in Barnsley will be able to travel on buses free of charge to make it easier for them to access education and work initiative, being piloted by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC) for 12 months, will begin on 1 will provide free bus travel for all under-18s living in the borough, covering journeys within South Yorkshire which start or end in scheme will be discussed and decided by BMBC's cabinet at its next meeting on 4 April. Passes will be valid between 07:00 and 21:00 every day, including at weekends and during school holidays, and will be available to all young people aged five to 18. Under-fives already travel free of will be issued to those will be no charge for those, but there will be a small fee if a replacement is needed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting project is being delivered in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which has committed up to £1m to the is contributing £5m towards the pilot, which will run until 31 July funding will go towards the cost of travel concessions, developing smartcard technology, increasing bus capacity and ensuring that there are enough resources to monitor and evaluate the impact of the scheme. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Campaign urges Barnsley men to check prostate cancer risk online
A campaign has been launched to encourage more men to check their prostate cancer to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, prostate cancer has been the most commonly diagnosed cancer among the borough's male residents over the last five showed it was regularly diagnosed in advanced stages, which required more aggressive treatment and often resulted in poorer health outcomes, the local authority part of the "It might not be reyt" campaign, resident Anthony Devonport, who was diagnosed in 2019, urged people to get tested as "it can happen to anyone". One in eight men get prostate cancer, with the risk increasing for men over 50, black men or those with a family history of the disease."My dad's got prostate cancer, he's living with it, he's 81 now, so we are quite well aware of what that means as a family," Mr Devonport said."I did notice some symptoms my dad had had, which sort of alerted me to go and get checked." Since his diagnosis, Mr Devonport said he had made a full recovery and decided to share his story to raise awareness."It doesn't matter how fit you are, I'm a cyclist, I go to the gym, I run - it can happen to anyone," he said. Check your risk According to the NHS, prostate cancer usually develops slowly, meaning there may not be any symptoms for symptoms can include an increased need to urinate, straining while you urinate or feeling that your bladder has not fully these symptoms could be a sign of a non-cancerous problem, they should be reported to a Cancer UK and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have now created a Barnsley-specific version of an online risk checker, which takes 30 seconds to use and involves answering three Cain, the council's cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities, said: "We want to help more men get the possible treatment to beat prostate cancer, which is why we're delighted to be partnering with Prostate Cancer UK on this new campaign."By working together and sharing this message across our communities, we can give prostate cancer the chop in Barnsley."Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Barnsley council to offer free cycle and scooter sessions to kids
A free programme to encourage youngsters to cycle and scoot is planned for the Easter holidays in year, more than 4,000 people took part in the RampUP sessions across 119 community events, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council from 8 April and run by the council's sport and physical activity team, those taking part can either bring their own equipment or will be provided with bikes, scooters and James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, said the events combined practical and educational elements to teach young people about active travel. He said: "We're proud to once again be offering a free series of RampUP events."Physical activity has many proven benefits for our physical and mental health, so it's important that our children and young people have the opportunity to access these experiences so they can move more, live well and feel better."Sessions will take place over two weeks across the borough with some offering free maintenance tips and safety checks carried out by qualified mechanics from Barnsley Bike Bike Works team will also be taking in any bike donations as part of the Barnsley Big Bike Recycle project. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
