New walking and cycling route for two schools in Barnsley
Almost £400,000 is being spent on the Kendray School Link scheme
Last updated 54 minutes ago
A new walking and cycling route linking Cypress Road with two schools in Kendray has been given the green light after funding was approved by regional leaders.
The £398,298 Kendray School Link scheme was approved at a South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority meeting on March 24, with the project set to be fully funded through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
The scheme will upgrade an existing informal path running between Cypress Road and Springwell Alternative Academy and The Forest Academy, creating a safer, all-weather route for pupils and residents.
Plans include surfacing the path to a four-metre-wide standard, alongside new lighting, seating, fencing and improved access points, as well as a safer crossing on Cypress Road.
Council documents say the route is already used despite its poor condition, with the improvements expected to encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling in an area where car ownership is lower and reliance on active travel is higher.
The business case for the scheme highlights wider issues in Kendray and Stairfoot, including high levels of deprivation and concerns about air quality, with the project aimed at reducing short car journeys and improving access to education.
Construction is expected to take place between June and August 2026.