Barrow Town Council Calls for Clear Guarantee Over Forum Replacement
Barrow Town Council is calling for a clear guarantee that The Forum will be replaced.
The call comes after Westmorland and Furness Council agreed the next steps in the Heart of Barrow project. Which includes plans to demolish The Forum and the indoor market hall. The buildings have been described as being in poor condition. With repair and refurbishment expected to be costly and unlikely to fully address asbestos contamination issues.
The decision has raised strong concerns among residents, councillors and arts supporters. Who say Barrow must not be left without a proper theatre, arts and community venue.
What Is Planned for The Forum Site?
The Forum and indoor market hall are part of the wider Heart of Barrow regeneration area.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet approved an Outline Business Case for phase one of the Heart of Barrow project in March 2026. This first phase focuses on enabling works, short-term support for the town centre and assembling land for a larger redevelopment in phase two.
The council says phase one will include:
- demolition of The Forum and indoor market hall
- short-term support for cultural groups and businesses
- a new Market Village
- a flexible temporary venue
- improved facilities and performance spaces in Barrow Town Hall
- a programme of cultural events and activities
- work to prepare the site for a larger redevelopment later on
The £35 million phase one funding is still subject to confirmation by the Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Team Barrow Delivery Board.
Why Is The Forum Being Demolished?
The Forum has long been one of Barrow’s main cultural venues.
It has hosted theatre, music, comedy, pantomime, community events, conferences and local performances. It has also been an important indoor space for the town centre.
However, the council says the building and the indoor market hall are in poor condition. A report considered by councillors said repair and renovation would be extremely costly and would not fully remove the issue of asbestos contamination.
The report concluded that demolition was the only viable long-term option.
That has not ended the debate. For many residents, the issue is not only whether the old building should stay. The bigger concern is whether Barrow will get a suitable replacement.
Town Council Wants an “Unequivocal Guarantee”
Barrow Town Council is now seeking stronger assurances over the future of arts and culture in the town.
The town council wants Westmorland and Furness Council to give a clear and unequivocal guarantee that The Forum will be replaced with a proper venue.
The concern is that demolition could happen before a fully developed, publicly scrutinised replacement plan is in place. A social media post from CandoFM said the town clerk was asked to send a letter to Westmorland and Furness Council noting that no fully developed and publicly scrutinised replacement had yet been presented.
The strength of feeling has also been visible locally. With residents gathering outside The Forum to show support for a theatre, community space and market in Barrow.
Council Says It Supports a New Cultural Venue
Councillor Helen Chaffey, Cabinet member for Communities, Customer Services, Culture and Communications, said Cabinet members believe Barrow and its surrounding communities deserve a thriving theatre and arts venue.
However, she also said the council could not give an absolute commitment to a replacement at this stage because the Heart of Barrow project is a Team Barrow scheme.
Team Barrow is a wider partnership involving the council, BAE Systems and national Government. The council says a replacement venue would need to be developed through phase two and would also depend on Team Barrow approval and funding.
This is the gap causing concern.
The council says it wants culture at the heart of regeneration. But residents and town councillors want a firmer promise that a proper venue will actually be built.
Concerns Over Losing More Than a Building
For many people in Barrow, The Forum is more than a venue.
It is one of the few central spaces where people can gather for live shows, school performances, community events, pantomimes, talks, conferences and local celebrations.
The worry is that once the building is gone, Barrow could be left with temporary arrangements for years. While long-term plans remain uncertain.
That concern is especially strong because the town is already undergoing major change. Barrow is seeing new investment linked to defence, housing, regeneration and town centre transformation. But many residents want to know that community facilities will be protected as part of that growth.
Community Must Stay Involved
Councillor Tony Callister, chair of the Furness Locality Board, said the number of people attending the Cabinet meeting showed how strongly the community cares about arts and cultural provision.
He said it was reassuring to hear Cabinet members support the view that Barrow deserves a replacement theatre. But he also said there was still a lot of work to do before that could become reality as part of the town centre transformation.
His comments reflect the central issue: support for a replacement exists, but the guarantee has not yet been secured.
What Happens Next?
The future of The Forum site will now depend on the next stages of the Heart of Barrow project.
Phase one focuses on demolition, enabling works and temporary support. Phase two is expected to develop the long-term vision for the town centre.
For Barrow Town Council and many residents, the key question is simple: will the town get a proper replacement for The Forum?
Until that answer is clear, concerns are likely to continue.
Barrow is being promised a major town centre transformation. But for many local people, that transformation must include a permanent arts, theatre and community venue at its heart.
