A multi-million pound revamp of Barrow town centre has been given a boost after Cumbria County Council agreed to take on overall responsibility for delivering the scheme.
At a meeting in Carlisle today (May 19) cabinet agreed the county council should become the funding applicant and client for phases two and three (Dalton Road phases) of the Barrow Town Centre Public Realm Scheme.
The project, which is aimed at increasing trade and investment in the town centre and bringing environmental and landscape improvements, has been in progress for several years and phases one and four have already been completed.
Cumbria County Council, Barrow Borough Council, West Lakes Renaissance and the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA) are all involved in the scheme, but as the county is the highway authority and responsible for the roads and pedestrian areas that are being revamped, Barrow Borough Council has requested the county takes on the role of applicant and client. This means the County Council, rather than Barrow Borough Council, will now become the accountable body for the project.
Barrow Borough Council has already approached the NWDA for around £3.8million, which has been agreed in principal and outline designs have been drawn up by Capita Symonds.
The next step is to put the scheme out to tender for phases two and three – which will be a continuation of phases one and four and will see improvements in Dalton Road, Portland Walk and surrounding streets, including revamped footways and new street furniture such as benches.
Work is due to kick off on site in the middle of September, with the transformation of the current town centre expected to be completed by December 2010. Works will be suspended in key areas on the run up to Christmas to reduce disruption to local businesses and shoppers.
Phases two and three are estimated to cost around £4.13million and will be funded from the NWDA (£3.72million), Barrow Borough Council (£160,000) and Cumbria County Council (£252,000).
As well as supporting improvements that will benefit residents, local businesses and visitors, being involved in the delivery of the project should ensure the county council faces lower long-term costs for the maintenance of the highway.
The link to the Cumbria County Council cabinet paper on this item can be found at http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/CouncilMeetings/Content/Public/2941/39944143613.pdf
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