Barnsley Labour’s survey of residents in Old Town ward received so many responses that we needed to break them down into categories for easier presentation. These results were then circulated to residents in the ward. Top issue in Gawber, Summer Lane, Pogmoor Road areas was Traffic and Parking. It is obvious to anybody who lives or works in the area that traffic in the vicinity of the hospital is horrendous, for drivers and residents alike.

What will the Independent councillors do? Will they address the problem by calling for action on Parking Schemes for residents? Will they call for a by-pass around the area? Will they attempt to make the hospital take their responsibilties seriously? None of these. They will simply hold another consultation exercise on Nov. Friday the 13th! Bad luck guys. Barnsley Labour were there first and residents know we were.

 It is a similar story in the Honeywell area. Their main concern was with the environment. In March 2010 (just before the local elections) they are to hold another consultation … on the environment. We should have guessed. Barnsley Labour leads and the others follow: but let’s just give the Independents the benefit of the doubt. They might be able to come up with some proposals before then to match our manifesto for the area.

They might…but I doubt it! After all they have done nothing about parking, traffic or the environment since they were elected. They will need to work hard in the run-up to the election if they want to catch up with Barnsley Labour.