Barrow’s MP is demanding a cast-iron commitment that the town will have a permanent theatre as part of long-awaited redevelopment plans.
Michelle Scrogham’s comments come on the eve of a crucial meeting of Westmorland Furness Council’s cabinet, which is expected to agree to the demolition of The Forum and market hall.
The trading venue was vacated last month by traders who were given hours to leave following a building survey which warned of advancing water leaks and the presence of asbestos.
The news prompted the authority’s new chief executive to explain more about the decision.
The site occupied by The Forum and market buildings is equivalent to around 8,500sq m.
Tomorrow, Tuesday March 17, the authority’s cabinet is being asked to agree to spend £35m on the first phase of redevelopment work.
The money would be spent on demolition and the clearance of the town centre site, the possible compulsory purchase of land and properties and work to recruit a development partner for the second, reconstruction phase of the project.
Demolition could take nine months to achieve but the council is considering how best to use the demolition of the market and venue as a way of boosting employment in the town.
A local employment charter, which would prioritise Barrow residents via job fairs and JobCentre Plus partnerships, is being considered along with links to Furness College to enable apprenticeships to be offered during the construction phase.
A report to councillors says that if phase one begins next month, provided, a Delivery Partner Pre-Development Service Agreement can be in place by quarter three of 2027, construction will start in 2028/29 with completion by 2035.
Any decisions will need to be approved by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
It has also emerged community conversations held during November and December and January attracted 659 survey responses along with views gathered from care homes, schools, youth groups and community organisation
Key findings suggested people visit the town centre less than they did five years ago and that they were keen to see an improved town centre offer.
Among over 200 main reasons people provided for visiting the town less often was the loss of big-name shops, the closure of the market and The Forum, anti-social behaviour making the town less appealing, and the perception that the town was not clean.
Councillors will also be told that since the launch of the Heart of Barrow project – the name given to the regeneration work – visible improvements have been made to the appearance, activity and perception of the town centre.
A report cites deep cleaning of streets, planting and beautification efforts as evidence that the town centre has been refreshed adding work has begun to shift public narratives about the town.’
Rapid deployment CCTV cameras are currently being built by police and are due to be installed by the end of the month.
With the market now closed and traders relocating to temporary sites, the council is drawing up two options for businesses to consider.
What officers call a ‘meanwhile’ or temporary Market Village while the demolition is happening is being proposed or compensation or assistance to other retail units in Barrow for those who do not wish to move to a new village.
Mrs Scrogham says she acknowledges that the structural problems at The Forum and Market Hall could not be ignored and that the council had to decide whether to ‘patch them up’ or make use of the £200m Barrow Transformation Fund to deliver an ambitious rebuild of our town centre.
“We have an opportunity to reshape our town for the future, providing new theatre, shopping, culture, and leisure facilities,” the MP said. “I want to see a thriving town again, one that attracts footfall that will sustain retail and hospitality again, somewhere people want to visit and enjoy.”
But, she warned, there was a need for a replacement for The Forum and said the appointment of an experienced development partner and publication of plans should happen before any demolition takes place. She also wants the views of residents to be gathered as plans evolve.
She also called for ‘a high-quality temporary theatre space’ to be provided while development takes place.
Last month performers and supporters held a rally to call on councillors to provide a space in the town where productions could again take place.
“I understand why people are worried. It feels like we have been stuck in a loop on this for years, and getting nowhere. We need to get on with it now, and this is why I think it’s different this time:
- We aren’t on our own – Team Barrow brings together Central Government, BAE Systems, and the Local Authority to deliver this. No other area in the country has been given that support.
- The government has provided £200m+ over 10 years to fund this transformation. That funding is a gamechanger, and the catalyst needed to bring in the additional private sector investment required.
- This is an internationally important project because of our role in the UK Submarine programme and AUKUS partnership – the eyes of the nation, and our international allies are on us. We cannot fail.”
The meeting takes placer tomorrow morning at Barrow Town Hall.
