Home / Disasters and Accidents / Barrow Market Traders Get Payout After Sudden Hall Closure
Barrow Market Traders Get Payout After Sudden Hall Closure
21 Feb
Summary
- Twelve traders received immediate compensation following the market hall's closure.
- The Market Hall and Forum theatre in Barrow are slated for demolition.
- A temporary space is expected for seven traders within four to six weeks.
Westmorland and Furness Council has provided immediate compensation to twelve traders after the sudden closure of Barrow's Market Hall due to health and safety concerns. The council announced on Tuesday that the Market Hall and the adjacent Forum theatre, which closed in 2024 due to asbestos, will be demolished.
Traders were given only three days to vacate the premises. In response, the council offered an "immediate compassionate payment" to provide financial relief. Efforts are underway to establish a temporary market space for seven of the affected traders within the next four to six weeks, with the council working to expedite this process.
Plans for a new market space in Barrow are being developed, following years of redevelopment discussions. Recent surveys in 2024 identified asbestos in the market, and while structural issues were known, recent weather-related leaks highlighted the risk of asbestos dislodgement, prompting urgent action.
Some traders may also be permitted to operate from an outdoor market. The council stated it is committed to fast-tracking the delivery of temporary facilities and progressing plans for a new market space for the community.
