Construction work on a new landmark bridge for Barnsley Town Centre will begin in February after a contract was finally signed following months of extensive negotiation. The new bridge over the railway line will be a permanent replacement of the former Jumble Lane level crossing, which was closed to improve safety in the area. The bridge will be a landmark feature on Barnsley’s skyline. It will be fully accessible with lifts at both ends. It will also be cyclist-friendly, with cyclists able to take their bikes into the lifts, or walk them up the steps using the dedicated cyclist groove built into the bridge. The contract to construct the bridge has been awarded to Keltbray. Work to build the bridge off-site will begin in February, with initial preparation work already underway. Works are due to begin on-site in July and the bridge is due to be completed by late summer 2023. The new bridge will be fully open on Barnsley FC home match days. This will bring an end to the ongoing temporary road and footway closures which are currently required to keep everyone safe. The current estimated cost of the project is £9.7m, which includes professional fees and sewer diversion work as well as some other enhancements over the original proposals. These include further public realm and highway improvements at both ends of the bridge. The project has attracted external investment of almost £7m. Network Rail is contributing £2m with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority contributing a further £4.8m via their Get Britain Building and Transforming Cities funds. The rest will be funded by Barnsley Council as part of the wider Town Centre regeneration. NMCN had previously been identified as the preferred contractor but fell into administration within days of the contract being signed. Specialist engineering and construction company Keltbray agreed an arrangement with administrators, Grant Thornton UK LLP, to acquire infrastructure contracts and associated assets from NMCN. The Council and Keltbray have been working on the process of transferring this contract to Keltbray since October and this has now been completed. Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “The process of appointing an alternative bridge contractor for the Market Gate Bridge has been quite complex. Our procurement and project teams have been working extremely hard on this for the past few months following the administration of the former bridge contractor NMCN. “I’m delighted that we’re able to update everyone with this excellent news that we’re now able to press ahead and complete this important part of our town centre regeneration. “The bridge will be an iconic addition to our fantastic new town centre and the first thing people will see when arriving by bus or train. It will bring people from the transport interchange directly into our new Glass Works Square and it will be an impressive addition to the skyline.” Mayor of the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority and Barnsley Central MP, Dan Jarvis, said: “It is very welcome to see that work is getting underway on Barnsley’s new Market Gate pedestrian bridge. This regeneration project will not only support the wider transformation of the town centre; it will also unlock significant investment opportunities for Barnsley, on adjacent development sites. “Once complete, the Market Gate Bridge project will massively improve the town centre’s public realm, create beautiful green spaces, and enable people to swap the car for walking and cycling. “Above all, it will mean a permanent link from the town centre to Oakwell on matchdays – which I know will be heartily welcomed by fans and Barnsley FC.” Sophy Lane, Associate Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “This is a key project which will make it easier for people to access Barnsley railway and bus station, particularly for those with additional access needs, as well as people with luggage, pushchairs and bicycles. “The installation of a permanent, accessible bridge will better connect the town and we look forward to residents and visitors benefitting from this scheme when it completes in 2023.” Darren James, Chief Executive of Keltbray, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Barnsley Council on such a prestigious project which will be a beacon of what Barnsley has to offer. The Market Gate bridge is a piece of iconic design and engineering which will look absolutely fantastic in the setting of Barnsley Town Centre. “We have delivered a lot of major projects in the past, and are pleased to be working with partners like Barnsley in the north of England to expand our footprint. In Barnsley Council we have found a kindred spirit – a local authority which is not scared to take bold decisions and to innovate. “We’re so impressed with the quality of the Glass Works development and the wider regeneration works in the town centre. We’re excited to be adding such a prominent and important finishing touch.”

A Lincolnshire charity which supports people with life-changing brain injuries will benefit from a year’s free PR and marketing support courtesy of award-winning agency Shooting Star. Headway Lincolnshire has been selected by the Lincoln-based PR, marketing and digital agency as its charity of the year for 2022. The charity supports survivors and their families across the county living with a brain injury following a stroke, epilepsy, a physical assault or a life-changing car or sporting accident for example. Shooting Star will work with the charity on a pro bono basis throughout 2022 providing them with PR, marketing, social media and event support. Ann-Marie Smith, Co-ordinator and Development Officer at Headway Lincolnshire, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Shooting Star for their support of Headway Lincolnshire. “Relationships with local and highly respected companies like Shooting Star help us to raise awareness of the vital work we do and the wide-ranging services available to brain injury survivors and their families in Lincolnshire. “We are very impressed by Shooting Star and the great work they do. We really value them choosing us as their charity of the year and are looking forward to the year ahead with the team.” Headway Lincolnshire also provides free counselling for carers including a support group which delivers the coping skills and strategies that they need to sustain a healthy life and to provide continued care for their loved one. It is estimated that there are over one million people currently living with the effects of a brain injury in the UK. Brain injury causes effects that are unique to each individual person, but there are common effects ranging from impaired mobility and physical disability, sensory impairment, epilepsy and paralysis to cognitive issues such as memory problems and reduced information processing. It can also cause emotional and behavioural changes such as low confidence, depression, anxiety, and impulsiveness. Jez Ashberry, a Director at Shooting Star, said: “The whole Shooting Star team is looking forward to working with the charity. “Headway Lincolnshire will be the 15th charity we’ve supported since we launched our Charity of the Year scheme in 2009. “We’re delighted to be helping this fantastic and very worthwhile cause through the coming year. “We know all about the important work Headway Lincolnshire does for people with brain injuries, and after several attempts we’re really pleased that this year they were voted the winners!”