Boost for Barrow from seaside towns fund

BARROW in Furness is to receive £900,000 from a government fund to support economic growth in coastal towns.

The cash for Barrow will support the ‘Unleashing Growth in Coastal Furness’ initiative which aims to create 275 full-time jobs and more than 85 part time jobs.

The town is one of six recipients in the first tranche of projects supported by the £24m Coastal Communities Fund announced by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

The funding can be used for a variety of projects including skills training, apprenticeship schemes and enterprises that rejuvenate seaside assets or that exploit emerging industries.

The first round of successful schemes in England will receive grants of up to £2m each to use on projects that creates local jobs, that supports coastal tourism and development and that boosts the inshore fisheries industry.

Mr Pickles also revealed that next year the Coastal Communities Fund will be increased by £4m to £28m, a 17%  increase on this year.

Mr Pickles said: “There is huge potential in our coastal towns that goes way beyond them only being places we visit for seaside day trips and holidays.

“This money will help those towns tap into these enterprises and create the skills and jobs that will benefit the whole community. We cannot afford to waste this chance which is why the Government is committed to increasing the fund next year.”