A new survey has been launched to gather views on how people across the area would like to enjoy cultural events and activities in Barrow in the future.
Residents and visitors are urged to take part by completing Barrow Borough Council’s short questionnaire online.
It seeks information on whether people are more likely to book events and days out in advance since the end of lockdown as well as the most popular town centre locations for activities to take place.
The results will be used to help shape the type of events on offer in years to come by ensuring the infrastructure to host them is available in the right places as part of #BrilliantBarrow – a series of innovative projects which are set to transform the town for generations to come.
Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council and a member of Barrow’s Towns Deal Board, said: “The survey will help us to understand how people’s attitudes to events and cultural activities may have changed since the start of the pandemic last year.
“We have some superb attractions here and it’s exciting to see them reopen their doors to welcome visitors back after lockdown.
“Now we need to know whether people are planning activities ahead by booking in advance, whether they might feel comfortable enjoying events in outdoor locations and where these events might be held.
“#BrilliantBarrow has given us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make sure we have the right infrastructure for exciting events in the future so it’s essential that we gather views that reflect what people want and how they feel after such a challenging year.”
Barrow was one of the first towns in the country to submit a successful Towns Fund bid last year – securing an offer of £25 million from the Government, the maximum amount available.
Detailed business cases are now being developed for each of the seven projects which make up #BrilliantBarrow. These will be submitted to Government later this autumn.
Information gathered as part of the survey will be used to inform the Place Development Project – which aims to draw people into Barrow helping to support the economy and boosting pride in the area for local people.
People are asked to join the conversation via the #BrilliantBarrow website – brilliantbarrow.org.uk – and by taking part in a survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XC67NH2
Councillor Thomson added: “We already know Barrow is a fantastic place with a huge amount of untapped potential. It’s a unique location – there’s nowhere else like it anywhere in the UK.
“We want to build on this with events and cultural activities in the future so we need the community to share their thoughts with us by taking part in the survey.”
