Miners’ Welfare Hall will not be renamed following backlash

Great Houghton Parish Council faced criticism from residents after a suggestion was made to add former councillor Dorothy Higginbottom’s name to the village’s Miners’ Welfare Hall.

Councillor Dorothy Higginbottom MBE served on Barnsley Council for more than 16 years, and almost 55 years on Great Houghton Parish Council, before her death in 2022.

Residents attended a meeting of the parish council to object to the suggestion, with concerns that the Miners’ Welfare Hall holds significant historical and emotional value, representing the town’s mining heritage and the sacrifices of its workers.

Parish councillors said they would take on board residents’ views at the meeting – but it was later discovered that the address of the hall had already been changed to the Dorothy Higginbottom Miners’ Welfare Hall.

Councillor Dorothy Coates, who chairs the parish council and also represents the north east of the borough at Barnsley Council, said that the change was made without the parish council’s knowledge.

Three parish councillors resigned in the aftermath.

A special meeting of the parish council was held on Saturday, June 1, and the remaining councillors decided that the name of the hall would not be changed.

Martin Fensome, parish clerk, said in a statement: “Members agreed that the Welfare Hall will remain known as Great Houghton Miners’ Welfare Hall and the Royal Mail informed of this.

“The chair and members of the parish council again apologise for any misunderstanding.

“The parish council understand the upset this matter has caused and trust that the matter is now closed.”