LEADING national newspapers have been putting Barrow under the microscope after they heard about the town’s promising future and the massive investment heading our way.
They were also interested to find out about the improvements we have been able to deliver – not just for Barrow, but across the constituency.
A while back, iPaper columnist Patrick Cockburn booked into the Duke of Edinburgh hotel, Barrow, for a couple of days during which time he interviewed local figures before publishing a feature highlighting the better times that lay ahead.
A week ago, Observer political editor Rachel Sylvester arrived in town and I was glad to meet her and give an honest assessment of the obstacles we have yet to overcome, but also to celebrate the hugely positive developments that are heading our way.
So as we move into August I thought we might take stock of some of the things we have managed to achieve – and of what the future holds.
Central to tackling the challenges will be the role played by Team Barrow and, as one of its board members, I’ll be driving the £220m of government investment to totally transform the town centre and improve the lives of people living in our communities.
We can also expect to see significant private investment being added to that figure as we co-ordinate resources and unlock opportunities for growth.
Central Barrow will also benefit from a new and additional £20m government “trailblazer” funding over the next decade which aims to transform neighbourhoods that have seen far too many years of underinvestment and decline.
Furness General Hospital will now benefit from £4.8m investment to repair the building that celebrated its 40th birthday in May.
Readers will know that the Mail and I have joined forces to resist any attempts to downgrade the intensive care unit at the hospital and talks with the trust are ongoing.
On the education front, the decaying Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School is to have a new £12m building and I’m glad to have helped to get everyone around the table as this project has progressed.
Millom can also look to a brighter tomorrow with investment of £29.3m meaning work can get underway on various schemes.
Labour’s pledge of transforming Britain into a clean energy superpower is manifesting itself locally with new nuclear coming to Moorside in west Cumbria and a supply agreement with Kimberly-Clark who will use hydrogen to de-carbonise its Barrow operation off Park Road, and £28m into the carbon capture project with Spirit Energy.
There’s too much positive news to fit into today’s column.
In closing, let me say we should view where we are today with perspective.
There were times in the early 1990s when the future looked bleak for Barrow and the surrounding districts; around 10,000 jobs were lost at the yard and people moved away from the area to find work.
Now look at the current scenario; thousands of extra jobs needed at BAE thanks to the submarine orders that stretch way into the future, and we will be building upwards of 800 new homes to cater for these workers and their families.
I can’t promise to fix things overnight, but change is happening and I can pledge to work hard for you both here in the constituency and in Westminster.