Barrow’s MP has condemned a decision which resulted in traders on the town’s market given just hours to leave and is demanding council officers offer an alternative home for the businesses affected.
“I share the frustrations of residents, and I am raging about the way that the market traders have been treated,” Michelle Scrogham said, reacting to news released on Tuesday evening by Westmorland and Furness Council which told traders that day that the market would be closing with immediate effect after assessments of the market building revealed it would need expensive and extensive remedial work.
In 2023, the council embarked on a £17.5m revamp of the market hall but a year later discovered asbestos and an extra £6m was earmarked to help it be removed. The work prompted the proposed closure of the adjacent Forum last year for up to two years. The council has now scrapped the plans as part of the Heart of Barrow project which will see the Forum and market hall buildings demolished.
But the decision, and the way it was delivered to businesses, has angered the town’s MP.
“The council has known for a while now that it would need to provide an interim space for the market and to replace the Forum,” Ms Scrogham said.
“The money is there and there are plenty of options available. We should not be in a position where the council are giving market traders 12 hours to clear their premises and with no clear plan for where they can move, whilst we wait for the Kendal-based council cabinet to decide on their preferred solution.”
Traders like Aphinya at Tuks Thai Foods were serving their final customers.
“We were surprised to be told to leave so soon,” she told Business Crack. “We thought we would have to leave in September but this is much earlier.”
What the future holds for her is unclear. She is hoping to find alternative premises to trade from but could not confirm where these would be.
Barrow BID have been offering support to traders who now face an uncertain future.
“It’s terrible news for the town,” shopper Jo Tyson commented.
With empty shops in streets not far from the market it is unclear why an alternative home was not found for traders, something which has frustrated the town’s MP.
“We have a huge opportunity here to transform our town centre backed by £200m additional investment from this Government and the innovative Team Barrow partnership,” Ms Scrogham said.
“This is an important moment for our town and we have to get it right. However, I’m increasingly concerned as we move through this process that the lack of urgency by Westmorland and Furness Council will lead to us losing important businesses, community services, and town institutions.
Once they are gone, they will be gone. It will be very difficult to replace them.
“I have asked that the council urgently provide an update on where traders will be moved and a plan for how they will be supported. I will continue to push for greater urgency and clarity around these decisions which are so important to our town.”
