Barrow’s market and Forum will be demolished – but there was no absolute commitment from councillors that the town will get a replacement arts venue.
A meeting on Tuesday of Westmorland & Furness Council’s cabinet agreed to knock down the buildings and use the site as part of the wider regeneration of the town.
Market traders 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.
Councillors received a report that explained both buildings are in a poor condition and that repair and renovation would be extremely costly and would not fully remove the issue of asbestos contamination.
The report concluded the only viable long-term solution was to demolish the buildings.
A £35 million plan is in place for short-term – or ‘meanwhile plans’ as the authority has dubbed them – and enabling work for phase one of the wider Barrow revamp scheme.
It also includes activities to support the town centre economy and to help cultural organisations and businesses in the short-to-medium term while the long-term vision is developed, as well as work to assemble the land needed for the transformational redevelopment that would follow during the second phase.
The funding for Phase 1 work is now be subject to confirmation by the Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Team Barrow delivery board.
A number of people attended the meeting at Barrow Town Hall to ask questions and many referred to the importance of replacing the Forum with another arts and cultural venue as part of the longer-term redevelopment.
Councillor Helen Chaffey, the council’s cabinet member for communities, customer services, culture and communications, said it was not possible to give an absolute commitment to a replacement venue because it was not in the council’s gift to do so at this stage.
She said: “Heart of Barrow is a Team Barrow project.
“Whilst we are a partner in Team Barrow, as a standalone council, we can’t guarantee a replacement facility because we simply don’t have the funding ourselves to make this a reality.
“Phase 2 will see the long-term plans developed with and alongside the local community and we would like to see a new venue included in those plans, but ultimately that would also be subject to Team Barrow approval and funding.
“However, we are committed to ensuring that culture is at the heart of the town centre regeneration and as portfolio holder for culture and communities, along with the local MP, I will continue to campaign for a replacement facility to be part of the longer-term vision.’’
The council said the ‘meanwhile’ proposals to support the town centre during the pre-construction and construction phases of Heart of Barrow include introducing a new Market Village, a flexible temporary venue, improved facilities and performance spaces in the town hall and a co-ordinated programme of cultural activities and events.
The meanwhile plans have been shaped by feedback from community and stakeholder engagement and would build on some early improvements already under way in the town centre, it added.
Councillor Tony Callister, chair of Furness Locality Board, said: “These are significant decisions and it was clear from number of people who attended the cabinet meeting and asked questions that the community cares passionately about arts and cultural provision in the town.
“It was reassuring to hear cabinet members support the view that Barrow deserves a replacement theatre, but it’s clear there’s lots of work to do before that could become a reality as part of the whole town centre transformation.
“The community must continue to be involved in this process if we are to really realise the huge potential of the Team Barrow funding.’’
