Dearne Valley News

22/09/2025

Guidance for Flying the National Flag in the UK, this covers a range of flags. Also in the comments is Barnsley Councils current take on the displaying of the the National Flag!
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14/09/2025

HELP NEEDED! A request From a Member of Public who has asked to remain anonymous:
Pease can you post asking if anyone has dashcam footage of a collision on Rockingham Roundabout yesterday morning at approximately 9.20am?
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Anyone who has information may post below, and if you do please state if the person can contact you for further information!

14/09/2025

Heritage scheme shines spotlight on Mojo nightclub:
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Though the building is long gone, the legacy of a short-lived club where music icons including Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix lit up the stage lives on. More than 60 years after it opened, its story is being told through a heritage scheme.

King Mojo Club on Pitsmoor Road in Sheffield was opened by "king of clubs" Peter Stringfellow and brother Geoff in 1964 and provided an early stage for future stars.

It promoted community cohesion and racial integration, according to those who frequented the Mojo, despite closing only three years later.

A £114,300 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will now bring the club back into the spotlight through exhibitions, podcasts, a documentary and a book.

The project, called "Mojo Rising - Celebrating 60 Years of Music and Community", will be delivered by the Mojo Heritage Collective and is set to involve a team of volunteers, artists, designers and academics.
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14/09/2025

Breaking News: Boxing champion Ricky Hatton found dead at home aged 46
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Ricky Hatton has died aged 46.

Hatton was found dead at his home in Hyde on Sunday morning. Greater Manchester Police said they are not treating the death as suspicious.

A police spokesperson said: "Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6.45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man. There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances."

Hatton held multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight during a 15-year professional career.

The British boxing great had been due to make a comeback to the ring in December.

Hatton's stellar career included epic fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
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Hatton's career summary
Hatton held multiple world championships in the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions during his boxing career which spanned from 1997 to 2012.

He held the WBU title between 2001 and 2004 - making 15 successful defences of that title, which followed the British light-welterweight title he won in 2000.

Hatton then became a unified light-welterweight champion in 2005, which represented the height of his career. He won the IBF, Ring and lineal titles by beating Kostya Tszyu that year, before beating Carlos Maussa to claim the WBA title.

He made his welterweight debut the following year, claiming the WBA title by defeating Luis Collazo. After winning another IBF light-welterweight title in 2007, he suffered his first career defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He then lost his light-welterweight titles to Manny Pacquiao in 2009. Hatton retired in 2011 but made a comeback in 2012, where he was beaten by Vyacheslav Senchenko. He was due to make a comeback later this year.
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(MORE DETAILS ON BBC NEWS AND SKY SPORTS)
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r.i.p. Ricky Hatton
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"Rest well, Ricky. You'll always have your place in the ring," boxer Amir Khan says as tributes pour in.

13/09/2025

Any one hear the high pitch HUMM tonight from 2.15am near Watermead and Mexborough Road, Bolton on Dearne! 🔊🔉🔈

10/09/2025

Airport cleared for take-off with £160m of funding:
(BBC news, Tom MacDougall & Lucy Ashton)
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The four council leaders in South Yorkshire have approved funding of almost £160m to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport and bring passenger flights back to the region.

The agreement from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority means freight operations should start in 2027 and a fully operational airport planned for summer 2028.

Speaking last week, elected regional mayor Oliver Coppard said he was in favour of the funding but the leaders of Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster councils needed to formally agree.

At a meeting at the airport, Coppard said: "We are cleared for take-off. It is a great day, but it is the end of the beginning.

"We have a load of work to do now to get the airport back up and running and to build that sustainable aviation and advanced manufacturing hub."

The airport, which first opened in 2005 and closed in 2022, was used by Tui and Wizz Air and served destinations including the Canary Islands, Balearics, Greece, Turkey, Poland and the Baltic countries.

Coppard previously said reopening the airport would support 5,000 jobs, boost the economy by £5bn and provide wider benefits of £2bn by 2050.

"Yes it's about making sure people have holiday flights, but this project cannot be deemed to succeed or fail based purely on passenger numbers alone, purely on profit or loss alone," he said.

"It's got to be about what it contributes to economic growth, our ambitions, world class industries and broader opportunities with aviation."

Following the formal agreement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "This is a huge milestone for businesses and communities across South Yorkshire delivering better connections, jobs and economic growth."

Airport campaigner Mark Chadwick described it as "absolutely amazing, the kickstart to get this place flying".

"The original airspace was removed a few months ago, but the unprecedented situation we are in is that the Civil Aviation Authority, the Department for Transport, Doncaster Council and the combined authority are all working towards getting it open," he said.

£160m meeting on airport's future: How did we get here?

The airport on the former RAF Finningley site closed when landowners and operators Peel Group declared it was no longer financially viable.

Since then, there has been a concerted campaign by Doncaster Council and others to reopen it.
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10/09/2025

Council facing £2m overspend, report says: (Danielle Andrews
Local Democracy Reporter).
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A council is predicting a £2.4m overspend this year, mainly due the rising cost of caring for vulnerable children and adults.

A report on Rotherham Council's finances for July said Children and Young People's Services were expected to be £5.6m over budget.

Adult social care had also felt the strain, with a £2m overspend.

The council said some of those extra costs would be offset by more than £5m from savings in other areas and contingency funds set aside for social care.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the cost of residential placements for looked-after children added to the council's costs, with 10 unexpected placements added over the summer.

The number of children in care remained steady at around 457, but the complexity of cases and higher placement fees were making it difficult to keep costs down, the report said.

The council's total 2025-26 budget, external is just under £359m.

Rotherham Council's Strategic Director Children and Young People Services Nicola Curley said: "Increasing costs of children's residential provision isn't just being felt in Rotherham, it is a national issue.

"We have seen a rise in the number of children and young people with complex needs, meaning that some placements require additional staffing, which in turn increases the cost of placements."

The council said it was also facing challenges in recruiting foster carers, meaning more children had to be placed in external, and more costly, settings.

Ms Curley said that the council was investing in authority-owned residential homes to increase capacity, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A growing demand for residential and nursing care for older people and those with mental health needs had also led to increased costs for the council in adult social care.

In addition, a nationally agreed 3.2% local government pay rise was set to cost the council £2.3m more than it expected when this year's budget was set.

Despite these pressures, finance bosses said the council was still in a strong position overall.

10/09/2025

Motorcyclist dies in road traffic collision:
(9 September 2025)
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A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a car in South Yorkshire.

The crash happened on Park Road, Barnsley, at its junction with Day Street, at about 21:00 BST on Monday evening.

The motorcyclist, a 38-year-old man, died at the scene from his injuries, South Yorkshire Police said.

The driver of the Kia Rio stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers, the force added.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant CCTV or dashcam footage has been asked to come forward.
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10/09/2025

Domes, decorating and Simon Cowell: Meadowhall turns 35:
Grace Shaw, (BBC News, Yorkshire)
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For some it's retail paradise, while for others dragged along to carry the bags it can feel like a form of purgatory - but after 35 years Meadowhall continues to draw in shoppers.

The mega mall - the region's largest shopping complex - welcomes millions of visitors a year and its distinctive design is a recognisable part of South Yorkshire's skyline.

Built on the site of a former steelworks, the centre, which opened on 4 September, 1990 employs thousands of people and, a decade ago, was said to contribute almost a fifth of the business rates collected by Sheffield City Council.

Aside from the financial benefit, it represents a landmark with decades of personal memories for shoppers and staff alike - including singer Self Esteem who sported a version of the site's distinctive domes as part of a Glastonbury outfit.

Centre manager Darren Pearce has worked there for more than three decades.

He started out in 1994 as a "young chartered accountant" and recalled being "absolutely blown away by the place".

He said: "I've been here 31 years, which is quite incredible. I never thought I would stay that long."

The shopping environment back then was very different - it was an era of no Sunday trading with the centre only opening late one day a week.

Over the years, Mr Pearce said the transformation in retail had been "incredible to see" with the centre undergoing major refurbishment as well as adapting to changing shopping habits.
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10/09/2025

Barnsley Council Check Your Bin:
Below is the portal/site for members of the community to check your Barnsley Council waste Bin Collection day.
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When you should put your bin out on collection day and where you should place it ready for emptying.

19/07/2025

🚨 TOXIC SMOKE IN BARNSLEY? Here's What to Do 🚨
(Black or white smoke – both can be harmful!)

🔥 Whether the smoke is black, white, or grey — if it smells toxic, causes breathing issues, or comes from burning illegal materials (like plastics, rubber, treated wood, or chemicals), it may be ILLEGAL and dangerous to health.

👁 Watch for:
✔ Strong chemical or burning plastic smells
✔ Smoke that makes your eyes sting or chest feel tight
✔ Frequent or thick smoke from bonfires, garden fires, or business waste

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✅ Who to Report It To:

🏡 Barnsley Council – for most garden or residential smoke issues
🆘 Report here:
👉 https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/environmental-health/report-a-smoke-problem

📞 Environment Agency – if it's industrial, large-scale, or involves illegal waste burning
🔥 Call 0800 80 70 60 (24/7)

🚒 If the fire is dangerous or spreading:
📱 Call 999 (South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue)

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📜 Legal Backing:

Environmental Protection Act 1990 – covers “statutory nuisance” like harmful smoke

Clean Air Act 1993 – makes it an offence to burn materials causing toxic or dark smoke

DEFRA and Barnsley Council both support this enforcement

📝 Keep a “smoke diary” with dates, times, smells, photos, and how it affects you

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❗ Don’t ignore it. Even white smoke can be toxic – it’s about what’s burning, not just the colour.