Barnsley Labour Watch

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

💷 **ARE TAXPAYERS GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY? — A QUESTION FOR LABOUR COUNCILLORS**

Residents in Central and Old Town are entitled to ask a very simple question: **how is our taxpayers' money being spent, and what are we actually getting for it?**

We have seen litter picks, clean-up events and community initiatives involving councillors, ward alliances, council officers and volunteers. But when public money is being spent on these activities, residents deserve to know **exactly how much they cost, who organised them, how many council staff hours were involved, what equipment and resources were used, and what measurable difference they made.**

I'm not criticising volunteers who give up their own time — quite the opposite. They deserve enormous credit. The question is about **accountability for taxpayers' money**.

If council-funded teams, officers and resources are being used, where is the transparency? How much has been spent in **Central and Old Town over the last six months** on litter picking, environmental improvements and related activities?

And to our Labour councillors: **can you tell residents exactly what you've delivered, what it has cost, and whether you believe taxpayers are getting value for money?**

Residents shouldn't have to accept vague claims about “community action”. **Show us the figures. Show us the results. Show us where the money has gone.**

💷 **It's taxpayers' money — and residents have every right to ask questions.** or is this just simply Litter Pick Wars ??

01/09/2026

🚨 **WHO ACTUALLY GOT THE POLICE PATROLS IN PLACE AT BARNSLEY INTERCHANGE?**

Following the recent violence at Barnsley Interchange, the Central Ward Labour councillors issued a statement calling for action. We subsequently saw **Barnsley Central Neighbourhood Policing Team supported by Special Constables carrying out foot patrols in the town centre**, with police also reporting proactive policing at the Interchange.

But let's be clear about the facts: **I have yet to see evidence that any one Labour councillor personally arranged or commissioned those patrols.** The patrols were carried out by South Yorkshire Police.

So perhaps the question for our Labour councillors is simple: **what exactly did you ask the police and other authorities to do, when did you ask them, and what action did you secure as a result?**

Residents deserve transparency. If you raised the issue, tell us **what you asked for, who you contacted and what response you received**.

Because after the reports of violence against Interchange staff and the subsequent arrest of a 15-year-old, residents don't just want statements — **they want to know what concrete action was taken and who was responsible for getting it done.**

You decide was this just an opportunity to pass it off to the newly elected council ? was the dig in your statement necessary at this worrying time ?

31/08/2026

🚨 **OLD TOWN — WHAT ARE OUR LABOUR COUNCILLORS DOING ABOUT CRIME?**

The figures for Old Town should concern every resident.

The latest ward-level data shows **124 crimes per 1,000 residents** over the year to April 2026. That includes:

🔴 **Violence & sexual offences — 42.4 per 1,000**
⚠️ **Anti-social behaviour — 17.9 per 1,000**
🚨 **Public order offences — 12.5 per 1,000**
🛍️ **Shoplifting — 9.7 per 1,000**
🏚️ **Criminal damage & arson — 9.21 per 1,000**
🔑 **Other theft — 7.68 per 1,000**
🚗 **Vehicle crime — 6.36 per 1,000**
🏠 **Burglary — 6.24 per 1,000**
💷 **Robbery — 2.95 per 1,000**
💊 **Drug offences — 2.93 per 1,000**
🔪 **Possession of weapons — 1.63 per 1,000**

So the question to our **Labour councillors is simple: what are YOU doing?**

Residents shouldn't have to accept drug-related crime, anti-social behaviour, violence, criminal damage and disorder as part of everyday life.

Police are taking action — but **where is the political leadership from our councillors?**

What pressure are you putting on the council? What are you demanding from the police and other agencies? What are you doing to make sure residents' concerns are actually being addressed?

**How bad does it have to get before enough is enough?**

Old Town residents deserve to feel safe in their own community.

👉 **Labour councillors — tell residents what you are actually doing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Old Town.**

30/08/2026

OLD TOWN BINGATE!! another fine mess Labour

How did these Labour councillors not realise that the bin wasn’t on public land and it was on BDGH land…? Don’t they know council bins have identifying numbers..? One quick email would have clarified this. This bin has been there years and has been emptied all that time.

They need to spend more time on ward priorities than having photo opportunities next to a bin that’s nothing to do with the council. Is BINGATE the most pressing issue in Old Town that needs a photo opportunity.? Must have been a slow week in Old Town..!’

https://www.facebook.com/share/18PcoiNNwT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A DISPUTE between two public bodies has left an overflowing bin outside the main entrance of Barnsley Hospital unemptied... Local News News Barnsley South Yorkshire

30/08/2026

https://www.wearebarnsley.com/news/21116/calls-grow-for-action-after-reports-of-violence-against-interchange-security-staff?sfnsn=scwspwa

🚨 **HOW MUCH MORE HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE OUR LABOUR COUNCILLORS ACT?**

Reports of violence against security staff at Barnsley Interchange should be a wake-up call. Staff should be able to do their jobs without fear of being assaulted, and passengers should be able to use our Interchange without feeling intimidated or unsafe.

So to our three Labour councillors for Barnsley Central, what are you actually doing about it?

Labour has held the Central ward seats through the recent elections — with Labour councillors elected in 2022, 2024 and again in 2026. That means residents have every right to ask what has been done over those years to tackle the problems around our town centre and Interchange.

We have already seen 1,809 police-recorded crimes in Barnsley Central in just six months, including 117 violence and sexual offences and 48 public-order offences in June alone. Now we're seeing reports of violence against Interchange security staff.

The police are responsible for policing, but councillors have a responsibility to **listen to residents, raise concerns, demand answers and push the relevant authorities to act.

So I have to ask: how much more has to happen? Does someone actually have to be seriously hurt before our Labour councillors take this seriously?**

Barnsley Central residents deserve action — **not excuses, not silence and not another promise to look into it.**

👉 Labour councillors: what are you going to do about it — and when?
Very quick to get your photo in the paper!

A LOCAL councillor has called for more robust action at Barnsley Interchange following reports of verbal and physical at... Local News Barnsley South Yorkshire

30/08/2026

🚨 **ARE LABOUR COUNCILLORS DOING ENOUGH?**

**1,809 crimes in just six months in Barnsley Central.** That’s an average of around **302 crimes every single month**. In June alone, there were **117 violence and sexual offences, 48 public-order offences and 35 reports of anti-social behaviour**.

These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet — they represent residents, workers and businesses who deserve to feel safe in their own town centre.

So where are our elected Labour councillors? **What are they actually doing to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and the growing concerns of local residents?** It's not good enough to simply point to the police and say it's someone else's responsibility. Councillors have a responsibility to listen, demand action and stand up for the communities they were elected to represent.

**Barnsley Central deserves better than excuses. It deserves action.**

👉 **Labour councillors: what are you doing about it?**