Liam Hardcastle Reform Uk representative

01/09/2026

August – A Busy Month Serving Our Communities 🇬🇧

August has certainly been a busy and rewarding month, with lots happening across Barnsley and plenty of opportunities to meet residents, support community organisations and deal with issues on behalf of local people.

Of course, the month started with Yorkshire Day on 1st August – always an important date in the calendar!

Throughout August I’ve had the pleasure of attending and supporting a huge variety of community events, including:

• The Young Marketeers Regional Final
• Elsecar Cricket Club Community Lunch
• Chapel View and Field View Care Homes Summer Fair
• 150 years of the Mothers’ Union at Sheffield Cathedral
• A Ward Alliance meeting
• Compass Be event at Locke Park
• A tour of Church View Children’s Home in Hoyland
• Kendray Park Gala
• A visit to the Samaritans to learn more about the vital work they do
• The Yorkshire Regiment presenting a silver salver at the Town Hall to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Regiment’s creation
• Ardsley Park Gala
• Healthy Holidays in Goldthorpe
• Darfield Gala
• Community Speed Watch training
• Thornton Road Berneslai Homes walkabout
• Great Childhood Ambitions Family Day in Barnsley town centre
• Age UK Summer Fayre at Shaw Lane
• Conducting a Citizenship Ceremony
• Support a BIADS Charity walk
• Barnsley Malayalee Cultural Association (BMCA) event
• Buckley Methodist Church’s 150th anniversary
• Yorkshire Rose Open Day
• Mapplewell Children’s Summer Party
• A children’s Cook & Eat session at Royston Library

I also spoke with the Barnsley Chronicle about the serious issue of youths and fires being set around Yews Lane.

Alongside the events and engagements, a big part of being a councillor is the work that often happens behind the scenes – helping individual residents and getting things sorted in our communities.

🏡 Resident and ward casework this month included:

• Collected 7 purple bags of litter
• Assisting with an electric vehicle charging point with Berneslai Home
• Dealing with two planning enquiries
• Reporting an abandoned vehicle for removal
• Helping with a complaint about an overgrown garden
• Assisting residents with four separate parking issues
• Requesting road sweeping and street cleaning on Gerald Road and Gerald Close
• Getting a burnt-out vehicle removed from a bus stop on Ardsley Hill following an accident
• Requesting the removal of two non-operational phone boxes on Market Hill
• Assisting a resident with an application for a wet room
• Dealing with three grass-cutting complaints
• Dealing with an arson attack on an allotment
• Helping with a resident’s council tax complaint
• Getting a bin moved to a more suitable position on Farm Road
• Dealing with two missed-bin complaints

In my mayoral duties, I’ve also started planning the Mayor’s Charity Ball with the mayoral team, installed a Union Flag in the Mayoral Parlour and instructed council officers to begin the process of selling the second mayoral car, which is no longer being used.

It’s been a packed month, but whether it’s attending a community gala, supporting a local organisation, celebrating an important milestone or helping a resident resolve an everyday problem, it’s all part of serving our communities.

Thank you to everyone who has invited me along, stopped for a chat, raised an issue or welcomed me to their organisation or event during August.

On to September! 🩵🇬🇧

01/09/2026

30/08/2026

What a lovely morning we’ve had out and about in our wonderful communities!

Our first visit was to Buckley Methodist Church, where they were celebrating an amazing 150 years. It was such a pleasure to join them for this very special milestone, chat with everyone and help celebrate 150 years of faith, friendship and community.

From there, we headed over to the world-famous Yorkshire Rose Open Day. It was great to support Dave, who does so much for the Barnsley community, and the least we could do was come along and support him at his event. We were also very glad the rain held off and the sun was shining for everyone! ☀️

We then finished our afternoon at Mapplewell Village Hall, where a brilliant children’s event was taking place. It was wonderful to see so many children there, having fun, enjoying the disco and making some happy memories.

Of course, I couldn’t resist putting in a special request to the DJ… Baby Shark! 🦈🎶😂

I hope the children enjoyed it as much as I did!

A huge thank you to everyone who made us feel so welcome today, and especially to all the organisers and volunteers who give their time to make events like these possible.

Days like today are a lovely reminder of just how much community spirit we have across our area.

29/08/2026

What a wonderful day supporting and celebrating our fantastic Barnsley community! ❤️

Earlier today, we had the pleasure of joining the walkers from BIADS to wish them well as they set off on their 5-mile round trip to raise vital funds for the charity.

BIADS is one of the charities I am proud to be supporting during my Mayoral year, so it was lovely to see everyone coming together for such a worthwhile cause. We wished all the walkers the very best for their journey — and I hope the rain managed to hold off for you! ☔🥾

Later, we were delighted to join the Barnsley Malayalee Cultural Association (BMCA) for their community event.

Established in 2021 by Barnsley’s Malayalee community, BMCA does wonderful work celebrating and sharing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Malayalee while bringing people together and helping to strengthen community connections here in our borough.

A huge thank you to everyone at BMCA for the very warm welcome and for inviting us to be part of such a special occasion. We were also incredibly touched by the lovely gifts presented to us — thank you for your kindness and generosity. They were very much appreciated.

We had a wonderful morning and afternoon, and it is always a privilege to spend time with the people and organisations who contribute so much to our communities.

Days like today are a lovely reminder of the generosity and community spirit we have here in Barnsley. Thank you to everyone involved! ❤️

28/08/2026

Reform win by-election in Southey ward in Sheffield as Labour come second

27/08/2026

25/08/2026

🚧⛔️ Telecoms road works update ⛔️🚧

24/08/2026

Whilst out in town the other day, I noticed the poor condition of this pair of old telephone boxes.

They are looking extremely dirty, neglected and run-down, and sadly they appear to serve very little useful purpose anymore. also I have concerns about them being used as a place to conceal suspected drug dealing, as well as people using them as a urinal.

When I stood near them, the smell of urine was particularly strong. This simply isn’t the sort of environment we should accept in our town centre, whether for residents, businesses or visitors.

I have therefore asked for these telephone boxes to be removed, and I have been told that arrangements are being made for their removal.

Our town centre should be a clean, safe and welcoming place. Where street furniture has fallen into this sort of condition and is attracting antisocial behaviour rather than providing a useful service, I believe action needs to be taken.

I’ll continue raising issues like this when I come across them and pushing for improvements to our town centre.

22/08/2026

I’ve enjoyed a busy day out and about in Barnsley today, joining families and communities at two fantastic local events.

The morning began at Barnsley’s Great Family Festival in the town centre, where I joined children, young people and their families enjoying a brilliant programme of free activities. From the Summer Carnival Party at Glass Works Square, with rides, circus skills and live performances, to activities taking place across Base71, the Seam Digital Campus, and Library @ The Lightbox, there was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the town centre.

In the afternoon, I headed over to Barnsley Bash at Shaw Lane, another fun-filled community event offering something for all the family. With entertainment, games, activities, stalls and music, it was great to see so many people coming together and enjoying the day.

I even got fully involved in the fun by taking a turn in the wooden stocks, It certainly made for plenty of smiles and laughter.

A wonderful morning and afternoon celebrating Barnsley, its families and the fantastic community spirit that makes our borough so special.