Cumbria County Council reinforces its commitment to Barrow and the Furness Peninsula

Cumbria County Council has re-emphasised its commitment to securing the best economic future for the town of Barrow and its surrounding area. Long-term support will come from the powerful and innovative Urban Regeneration Company, Westlakes Rennaisance, with continued economic development work in a number of key areas. The Council also fully supports the campaign to ensure the shipyard in Barrow secures the contract for the construction of the country's much heralded new aircraft carrier. 

Rex Toft, Leader of the County Council explains: 

"This County Council has a proud record of supporting economic regeneration in Barrow and it is an issue that is right at the very top of the Administration's agenda. It and can be clearly demonstrated by activity at both a strategic and a local level. 

The County Council has been the driving force behind the innovative and powerful Urban Regeneration Company, West Lakes Renaissance, which gives an ideal focus for all agencies to work together to build a prosperous future for Barrow. The County Council has already set aside £1.5m to support this initiative, much of which will benefit directly Barrow and its surrounding area. 

Over many years we have been involved in land reclamation of old industrial sites that has provided new opportunities for developments such as Furness Business Park, the Dock Museum, of course provided the site to attract new industries such as Colony Candles. 

We have been instrumental in the £2m redevelopment of the Abbey Road College Annex into the modern Nan Tait Centre, a major reorganisational and regenerative project in the very heart of town. The externalisation of our own Design and Business Directorate to CAPITA included a contractual commitment to being new jobs to the town." 

We have been heavily involved in the Heart of Barrow initiative, we support Furness Enterprise and are continuing to work closely with the Local Strategic Partnership to attract significant funding through Neighbourhood Renewal and Single Regeneration grants. 

We are more than to be involved or co-ordinate any lobby of Government regarding the needs of the town and in particular any problems or concerns that may be arising because of the speculation over the barrow shipyard. 

One of this Council's key priorities is to regenerate and diversify the economic base of the area and in Barrow and that objective has been tackled with the utmost vigour." 

The Council leaders comments come following the publication of an open letter from him to Councillor Terry Waiting the Leader of Barrow Borough Council who had raised concerns regarding a misplaced perception of the County Council's commitment to Barrow.