Mail Weekly Column: 9 October 2023

There were many exciting announcements for Furness this week. A huge moment came on Sunday when Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced £4billion in funding to develop the new SSN-AUKUS submarine through the design and long leads stage.

This announcement reinforces the Government’s continued and clear support for the UK submarine enterprise, supporting thousands of highly skilled UK jobs - including in Barrow - and will move this joint project forwards. Delivery is crucial to our national security, and also that of our allies and partners across the globe too.

This funding will enable BAE, Babcock and Rolls-Royce to invest in infrastructure and critical skills, and to procure the long-lead items needed to move forward to schedule. It will secure local jobs, grow the economy, and is a clear and very welcome statement of support to everyone involved in this national, and international, endeavour.

Later in the week I was glad to see the Prime Minister commit to upgrading the Energy Coast line, stretching from Carlisle through to Workington and on to Barrow.

This crucially important line links Moorside, which would generate up to 7% of the UK’s electricity, to Barrow, home of the UK’s submarine enterprise.

Upgrading this line will allow over 172million tonnes of freight to be taken off our roads, and will support our national security, energy security, and our international partners too. Providing this capacity will support job creation across the coast, taking pressure off our local roads, boosting tourism and unlocking new homes in South Cumbria.

Finally, there was also more exciting news that works are set to start in Barrow Town Centre next month. Barrow-based Leck Construction have been awarded the contract to demolish properties on Dalton Road, Stephen Street and The Ginnel as part of the Government-funded £17.5m Levelling Up Fund.

The work is part of the wider scheme to reinvigorate the Market Hall, neighbouring arts and entertainment venue The Forum, and the public realm that surrounds it, to attract more people into the town centre, bringing the community together and boosting the local economy.

The demolition works are set to start in mid-November and will make way for the introduction of a pocket park.

Alongside the new developments on Portland Walk, with BAE transforming empty shops into workspaces, bringing significant footfall to town, and the new university campus, funded by the £25million Town Deal, the future is looking bright for Barrow.

It was also a busy week out and about in Furness. Last week my team and I hosted a Macmillan Coffee morning with St Mark’s Church in Barrow. The event raised nearly £300 funds for a very good cause. Thank you to all who came down to support, to St Mark's for hosting, and to everyone who baked the fantastic cakes. I also held a couple of constituency surgeries, and was grateful to Barclays for hosting a roundtable lunch with local businesses, including farmers, accountants, recycling firms, care providers and other SMEs and large businesses to speak candidly about local opportunities and challenges.

Next week is my jobs fair - taking place on Thursday 12 at the Holiday Inn and Forum. 50 employers and skills providers will be present to offer jobs, promote career paths, and to hold workshops. Do come along: www.simonfell.org/jobs-and-skills-conference