Market village and venue plan after sudden closure
BBCPlans to create a new market village and temporary venue are on the cards as a council considers demolition plans for an old hall.
Barrow's Market Hall shut suddenly in February due to fears over asbestos and worsening leaks, with traders forced to move out without notice.
Next door, the events venue the Forum, also owned by Westmorland and Furness Council, suffered similar issues and was shut in 2024.
The Lib-Dem authority is due to discuss plans to knock down the ageing buildings and look at interim options, including a market space and temporary flexible venue to provide "new places for people to meet, shop, and take part in events".
A report prepared ahead of the meeting on Tuesday said while the council had listened to representations from the public on the importance of the market and Forum, demolition was "an operationally necessary step".
Redevelopment discussions form part of the next phases of the Heart of Barrow project - a £200m regeneration of the town planned over 10 years.
The council will be asked to approve the outline business case for the first phase, which includes the demolitions and a package of "meanwhile uses and cultural activities" for the town centre.
A spokesman for the authority said: "The programme has been designed to help the town centre economy in the short to medium term, to maintain footfall and support cultural organisations and businesses during the redevelopment."
This phase, which costs £35m, would then have to be approved by the government before it could go ahead.
A second phase would be subject to a separate business case and funding approval.
