Team Barrow starts work on improving Barrow town centre

From its inception a little over a year ago, Team Barrow identified transforming the town centre as one of its top priorities.

And while the team – which is a partnership between Central Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems – is developing longer-term plans, it wants to get started on some early interventions.

Simon Case, the Chair of Team Barrow, said “When we talk to people, what we hear loud and clear is that they want to see something that looks and feels like an improvement, and they want to see it now.  Thanks to the £200million we have received from the Government, we have an opportunity to reverse decades of underinvestment in Barrow, to create a town the community can be proud of.  We are ambitious, and we know the community shares this ambition.  It’s a huge challenge and it will take time to deliver, but it’s important we take steps now to boost the town centre, by making it cleaner, safer and more welcoming”.

Work has already started on a three month deep-clean on Portland Walk, and includes Dalton Road, Cavendish Street and Scott Street.  This work is funded by Team Barrow and delivered by the Barrow BID alongside their community litter picking and planting days.

A series of iconic images to celebrate Barrow’s heritage are also being displayed at various locations in the town centre. 

And a new network of CCTV cameras will be installed, which is also funded by Team Barrow and being delivered in partnership with Cumbria Police. These will make the town safer, acting as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour.

Westmorland and Furness Cabinet Member for Communities, Helen Chaffey said: “I am really pleased that we are engaging with local people and businesses to understand what their ideas are for the regeneration of Barrow town centre. However, it is important that we crack on with what we can do now to improve the look and feel of the town centre”. 

Westmorland and Furness Council, who are leading on the town centre’s transformation plans, are having community conversations throughout January – visiting community groups, social clubs and schools to gather the views of local people. They’ve have also put out a short survey online for those who are unable to attend in person.  The online survey will run until the end of January.