Council set to spend £2.4m on depot overhaul

Barnsley Council is set to approve the spending on 3 September

A council is set to spend more than £2.4m on a major overhaul of its main operational depot.

A report to Barnsley Council said the Smithies Lane site was "tired" and at full capacity, having only undergone cosmetic repairs while waiting for investment.

The depot, which is home to refuse wagons, gritters and highways teams, has become the central base for many services since the closure of secondary sites.

Council officials said the site was under strain and required significant investment into its infrastructure to meet health and safety standards.

Cabinet members will be asked on 3 September to agree to the upgrades which include resurfacing across the depot, an upgraded heating system and tighter security measures.

The depot on Smithies Lane was at full capacity, a report to Barnsley Council said

The most expensive part of the project set out so far would be the rebuilding of the transport workshop, estimated to cost £1.35m – more than half of the total budget.

This element is not expected to be carried out until after 2025/26 and would be subject to further funding decisions, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Staff facilities would also be refreshed with new cabins and vehicle lifts, while the salt dome, which protects the town's winter grit supplies, would also be repaired.

A total of £2,432,000 from the authority's existing capital budget would be set aside to fund the work with no additional resources identified.

A council report said the investment reflected a commitment to maintaining "safe, efficient and modern working environments" under its Be Safe Work Safe campaign.

The programme aims to promote safe and respectful workplaces across council services.

Officials said there would be no disruption to refuse collections, highways maintenance or other frontline services while the work was under way.

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