Paths, lighting and memorials to be improved

The council said the Our Places fund included work to Wickersley clock tower, which has had an industrial clean, paving and planters added

Paths, lighting, memorials and other areas of public realm are to be improved as part of investment in Rotherham.

The Our Places fund is now in its second phase and £4m has been ringfenced in this year's Rotherham Council budget.

The fund aims to "breathe new life" into areas of public use and improve safety.

Areas including Wickersley, West Melton, Thrybergh and Rother Valley Country Parks have already had or are still undergoing major improvements as part of the first phase.

After reports of anti-social behaviour in Swallownest, the council will pay for overgrown shrubbery to be removed, paths and new lighting to be installed, and railings to be repaired and repainted.

Rawmarsh High Street and other roads will have new walls and seating, and in Masbrough lighting will be added to underpasses. Drains will be cleared and paving levelled.

The funding will also be used in Maltby and Swinton, and for war memorials and cenotaphs in Rotherham, Wath and Dinnington town centres.

Areas around cenotaphs, memorials and monuments will be improved

As part of the first phase, children's play areas at Rother Valley and Thrybergh country parks were revamped.

In Wickersley, work has begun on resurfacing Bawtry Road with a new footpath. The clock tower has already been refurbished.

The public area at Masefield Road in West Melton has already been improved, with better footpaths, planting, seating and lighting, plus a community Christmas tree

Councillor John Williams said the council was "committed" to improving local areas.

He added: "We are really grateful to everyone who took the time to take part in the consultation and suggest improvements that they wanted to see."

Mr Williams said many of the suggestions, such as upgrading shopping areas, reusing vacant land and improving streets for pedestrians, were being considered for other funding.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North