Shipbuilding will not dominate Barrow's future

The Right Reverend Graham Dow has spent the past week in the town learning more about the area.

Up to 700 jobs are to go at the shipyards in Barrow as BAE Systems moves work to its operations on the Clyde.

The company is planning to end shipbuilding in Barrow, concentrating on submarines and consolidatng work on the Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer.

The Rev Dow said that with the job losses it was important for people to look to the future, and that the church should help people do this.

'Aspirations raised'

He said: "I want the churches to be more involved, raise their profile, and show that we are really involved.

"Shipbuilding is not likely to dominate the town in future, therefore there needs to be diversification.

"There are lots of ideas around, such as talk of developing the Dock Estate.

"But aspirations need to be raised, and people need to think they can do things to move the town forward."

He said there was government money available to be tapped into, which would help the town to recover.