Councillor Michael Davies - Hoyland Milton Reform UK

18/06/2026

UPDATE: A very positive and productive meeting was had with Barnsley Council officers and the tenants of Elsecar Heritage Centre this afternoon.

We’d like to thank officers for their update on upcoming events and the progress being made on key issues affecting the site in both the short and long term.

It was encouraging to hear about the plans being developed for the future of Elsecar and the commitment to working together to ensure the continued success of this important heritage destination.

We’ll continue to work closely with council officers and tenants going forward and look forward to building a positive and constructive relationship that benefits everyone involved.

Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the discussion.

17/06/2026

🎓 Children's University Gold Awards Celebration 🎓

Yesterday evening, in my role as Deputy Mayor, I had the pleasure of attending the Children's University Gold Awards Celebration at The Civic, Barnsley, where I was honoured to present more than 100 certificates to young people from schools across the borough.

The children, their families and teachers were fantastic, and the evening was a wonderful celebration of dedication, commitment and achievement.

These awards recognise children who have completed between 100 and over 500 hours of voluntary enrichment activities, including sports, arts, clubs, volunteering and community-based learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

The Children's University plays a key role in encouraging learning beyond the curriculum, helping to build confidence, raise aspirations and support inclusion and early intervention across Barnsley. Through their participation, children develop new skills and interests, increase their curiosity and ambition, make new friends and enjoy experiences that help prepare them for the future.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the evening was seeing the children dressed in traditional caps and gowns, reflecting a university graduation ceremony. This creates a memorable experience and a real sense of pride, whilst reinforcing the message that learning beyond the classroom is equally valued and deserving of recognition as academic achievement.

The event was supported by Barnsley Council Children's Services and volunteers from the Barnsley Youth Council, including the Young Mayor of Barnsley, Tamsin Brooke, whose contribution helped make the evening such a success.

Congratulations to every child who received an award. Your hard work, enthusiasm and commitment should make you extremely proud. You are a credit to yourselves, your families, your schools and our borough.

👏 Well done to all the award recipients, and thank you to everyone involved in making the evening such a special occasion.

And you guessed it – the evening ended with the traditional hat toss! 🎓

For a few seconds The Civic looked less like an awards ceremony and more like an air traffic control exercise! Thankfully, all hats landed safely and were returned to their rightful graduates.

A brilliant way to end a fantastic evening celebrating some truly inspirational young people. 👏🎉

16/06/2026

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE – WELLAND CRESCENT, ELSECAR 🚧

Residents are advised that Welland Crescent, Elsecar will be subject to a temporary road closure from 30th June 2026 for approximately 3 days.

📍 Location: From outside No.108 Welland Crescent to Oaken Royd Croft

🔧 Reason for Closure: Remedial carriageway works

🚗 Diversion Route: Cobcar Lane → Strafford Avenue → Welland Crescent

Please allow extra time for your journeys and follow any signed diversion routes in place.

As always, works are subject to weather conditions and operational requirements, so dates may change if necessary.

🚧

16/06/2026

14/06/2026

⚠️ Road Safety Alert – Wath Road, Elsecar

A resident has contacted me to raise concerns about a section of road on Wath Road, opposite the new housing development, where a patch of tarmac has reportedly sunk into the carriageway.

Unfortunately, I have been informed that at least one vehicle has already sustained damage after hitting the defect.

The issue is currently in the process of being reported to the relevant highways team, however due to lengthy waiting times on the urgent reporting line, we wanted to make residents aware as soon as possible.

If you are travelling along Wath Road, please take extra care and be mindful of the affected area until repairs can be carried out.

Thank you to the resident who brought this to our attention. We will continue to monitor the situation and seek an update from the appropriate department.

🚗 Please drive carefully and share this post to help make others aware

If anyone has suffered vehicle damage as a result of this defect, please ensure it is reported and photographed before any repairs are carried out.

14/06/2026

Our volunteer team are busy preparing for our new walking tour with one Elsecar resident already signed up!

The new tour takes visitors along the historic Elsecar canal to the Hemingfield Colliery basin where we will be joined by volunteers from Hemingfield Colliery - FoHC.

Discover how this remarkable waterway helped shape the growth of the Earl Fitzwilliam’s industrial village and beyond.

You will also learn how the Dearne and Dove Canal, constructed in the late 1700s, connected Elsecar’s collieries and Ironworks to wider markets and played a vital role in transforming the area into a thriving industrial hub.

This two‑hour tour begins at the Visitor Centre at 10am on Friday 19 June and costs £10 per person.

Please note, there may be some uneven surfaces under foot, and the tour will follow the Trans Pennine Trail.

Spaces are limited to book your place or to find out more information, please contact the team by emailing [email protected].

🏛️ Visitor Centre, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath RD, Barnsley, S74 8HJ
📅 Friday 19 June
🕚 10am till 12 noon
🎟️ £10 per person

14/06/2026

🎶 An Evening of Inspiration with Barnsley Youth Choir 🎶

Earlier this evening, I had the privilege of attending the annual gala of the Barnsley Youth Choir in my role as Deputy Mayor of Barnsley, accompanied by Cllr Pat Gregory.

What a truly fantastic evening it was.

Hosted by renowned broadcaster Christa Ackroyd and Dan Jarvis MP, the gala raised thousands of pounds to support the incredible work of BYC, helping more than 700 children and young people aged 0-24 from across Barnsley access world-class singing opportunities.

The choir completely blew me away. The emotion, passion and beautiful voices heard throughout the evening were simply exceptional. The talent on display was outstanding and it was clear just how much dedication, hard work and support goes into making BYC such a success.

The charity is currently fundraising to take 64 of its members to represent Great Britain at the World Choir Games in Sweden – often described as the "Choir Olympics". They will also perform at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. What an incredible opportunity for these young people and what fantastic ambassadors they will be for Barnsley and Great Britain.

One of the things that impressed me most is that BYC really does have something for everyone. Whether you're a newborn or 24 years old, and wherever you live in the borough, there's a choir for you.

🎵 World-class leaders and vocal coaches
🎵 Low fees, bursaries available and no joining fee
🎵 An award-winning not-for-profit charity
🎵 The highest-ranked GB choir in the Interkultur World Rankings
🎵 Opportunities to work with outstanding international choirs and leaders

For local families, the Junior Choir (ages 4-7) rehearses every Wednesday at Hoyland Common Primary School from 4.30pm.

If you'd like to find out more or join, you can apply here:
https://tinyurl.com/JoinBYClink

A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising such a wonderful evening. Barnsley should be incredibly proud of what the Barnsley Youth Choir continues to achieve.

11/06/2026