New housing developments are stretching Penistone's public services to breaking point.

With over 1400 new houses planned to be built in Penistone over the next 15 years, local homeowners are asking the big question; can our public services cope with more people?

[Pictured above: Persimmons development, Hartcliffe Road, seen from Schole Hill Lane.]

Over 10 new housing developments have been planned for Penistone between now and 2033, but so far no plans have been made to improve and expand our public services.

A number of major projects have been proposed. The largest of which will see 516 houses built to the South of the A629, Halifax Road between Penistone and Ingbirchworth.

318 new houses will be built on Joan Royd Lane in Cubley, while 126 houses have been planned for Talbot Road near Bridge End.

[Map: Shows the locations of the proposed housing developments for Penistone. If each development goes ahead, over 1400 new houses will be built within 3 miles of one another.]

[Table: Shows the biggest housing developments Barnsley Council are proposing for Penistone between now and 2033.]

Barnsley's Big Plan

Barnsley Council's plan aims to provide at least 20,330 homes, including affordable housing, across Barnsley borough. They also intend to provide the space for 33,000 jobs. However, only one site in Penistone is identified for employment; 8 acres on the North side of Sheffield Road.

1400 acres of Green Belt land will be lost across the borough. Whereas only 420 acres of Brownfield land will be used for the housing and employment developments.

The plan states before permission is granted for housing development, good access to a range of shops and public services must be visible. However is this taking into account how many people use those facilities?

Problems for Penistone

A number of the new Penistone developments have already been approved by Barnsley Council.

Despite the communities strong views against a Persimmon's development of 159 houses being built on Hartcliffe Road, building work began in Summer 2015. Public consultations showed 96% of local residents are against large developments on green areas.

The estate is estimated to be completed by December this year.

Schole Hill Lane resident, Alan Roberts said the new Persimmon development, which resides 60m from his own front door, has destroyed the landscape and tranquillity of the area. He also voiced his concerns for the town's facilities and how they would cope with so many new residents.

"There's so many new houses going up in Penistone that the facilities can't cope. The Schools. the doctors. Even the size of the roads. There's just too many people."

Numerous complaints were made from the community regarding the tight corner between Chapel Lane and Hartcliffe Road. The corner, which is only wide enough for single file traffic, has always been considered dangerous.

Mr Roberts continued, "The increased traffic the corner will see from cars traveling to the Persimmons development is a hazard. It's a narrow country lane. There's bound to be a crash."

[Map: Dangerous corner from Chapel Lane to Hartcliffe Road, which is the main route from the centre of Penistone to the new Persimmon Development.]

Other approved developments include 33 houses on Sheffield Road, 13 houses on Laird's Way and 25 houses on New Smithy Drive in Thurlstone.

Local couple Christine and Neville Whitwam have been residents of New Smithy Drive for over 50 years. They believe that the narrow roads in Thurlstone aren't suitable for even the smaller development of 25 houses.

They stated that it's a regular occurrence to wait weeks for an appointment at Penistone Doctors Surgery and local Dentists, and stated that everywhere in Penistone and the surrounding areas is 'one big car park.'

The couple are amongst many locals fighting against the developments. "It's got to stop, and we're fighting it."