Masterplan to make Mexborough look better from the bypass

Local councillors have now seen a draft of the proposals for a document which would look to improve the town, part of the Doncaster borough, but described by local community leaders as the fifth biggest town in South Yorkshire.

It will be discussed by the Mexborough Business Forum as part of the consultation process this month.

Business forum chairman and ward Coun Sean Gibbons said: “It is looking to try to improve the look of the area.

“At the moment. all you see when you get off the bus at the bus station is the back of Poundland.

“We are wanting to improve the view from the bypass and increase the footfall in the town centre. We want to get that right and get some housing and residential in the mix in the town centre.

“We’re also highlighting the need to do more with the Mexborough conservation area, with places like the Red Lion pub, which is closed and derelict at the moment. One proposal there is that it could have an element of a micropub, but with flats too. The owner has offered to meet us, and we welcome dialogue with him.”

The plan would also look at the appearance of Bank Street, High Street and Main Street, he added.

“We are hoping to get more detail in the new year. It is an opportunity for everyone to get involved,” he said.

Community leaders have been campaiging for a Mexborough masterplan from Doncaster Council since the authority created a Doncaster masterplan two years ago.

The Doncaster town centre masterplan has looked to transform the view of the town centre from the railway station, and to transform the market.

Work is already underway or completed on some parts of the Doncaster scheme, which seeks to make it easier to move from one part of the town centre to another and includes elements of office and residential accommodation. Some sections, such as the Waterfront, are still to be fleshed out.