Millions more needed for market hall revamp

Millions of pounds are needed to carry out further regeneration works to a market building after investigations found "additional asbestos contamination".

Barrow Market Hall in Cumbria is being rebuilt as part of a £17.5m town centre revamp funded by the last government's Levelling Up scheme.

However, Westmorland and Furness Council's cabinet has now recommended approval of an additional £6m as the existing budget is "not sufficient".

It was announced the adjoining Forum arts and entertainment venue will close in March for up to two years while the next phase of works is carried out.

The additional council funding will pay for "critical enabling works" including market trader relocations, asbestos removal and structural repairs to the Market Hall, documents said.

Surveys and investigations found asbestos contamination in areas within the ceiling void of the market hall, behind column casings, above lower-level ceilings and in drainage ducts, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A council document said regular air testing "confirmed that there has been no release of asbestos fibres into the Market Hall or Forum and so no risk to staff or public".

In August, traders moved to temporary units in The Mall, facing Dalton Road, and inside the former Meat Hall.

Announcing the decision to close the Forum, a statement on the venue's website said the next stage of works at the Market Hall would involve heavy machinery - leading to a "possible risk that vibrations could impact the structure of the Forum and disturb areas of asbestos which are currently safely contained".

All events from 1 March were being taken off sale immediately, it added, and people with tickets will be contacted.

Shows and conferences will be moved to alternative venues if possible.

The Santa Express pantomime will continue until its scheduled close on 24 December and the Forum's cafe and toilet facilities will remain open until the end of March 2025.

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