The Forum and Market Hall – thecumbriachronic.co.uk

CRUMBRIA: 24.3.2026

TWO months ago, Simon Case, of Team Barrow, told reporters: “The time for talking is over!”

We hadn’t realised he meant it literally.

He’s just made a public statement in the Evening Snail that told the public absolutely nothing.

To its credit, the alleged newspaper asked the Offcomer-in-Chief if the town is going to get a replacement for The Forum.

Case, a job-hopping civil servant with an eyebrow-raising CV, gave no such guarantees.

Instead, he said that arts and culture in Barrow are “vital” – like he’s the first bloke on earth to ever realise it.

It was typical meaningless weasel words from a super-slick Downing Street operator. A good job Barrow knows bullshit when it hears it.

Tellingly, Case gave NO date, NO timetable and NO assurance that a replacement entertainment venue is on the way for The Forum.

The only translation to make?

There is NO plan for Forum 2.

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The Chronic can also spot the tell-tale signs of a disagreement developing between Team Barrow and Wokemoreland & Farcical Clowncil.

In his latest statement, Case puts the ball very firmly and publicly back in the court of the Lib Dem Council.

In effect, Case has told the Council: “Show us your plan for the gap and we’ll consider it.”

Yet various Lib Dem cabinet members have said filling the hole in the Heart of Barrow is Team Barrow’s role.

Only a week ago, Lib Dem Council leader Jonathan Brook said: “We will…be working very closely with Team Barrow, who hold the purse strings…for what will come in the future.”

That it’s taken a WEEK for Team Barrow to say anything about the biggest change to Barrow’s skyline since Portland Walk, might tell you all you need to know.

Nobody at Team Barrow appears to be in too much of a hurry about replacing The Forum.

And has Wokemoreland & Farcical Clowncil dropped a bollock here?

Has the Council started the ball rolling on demolition hoping Team Barrow would turn up with the cash and a plan for something?

Because the Council also isn’t showing any enthusiasm to lead on a replacement venue.

Does the Council even want a high-cost/low-profit venue that becomes a drain on its kitty?

The opening shots of pass the buck may have already started.

The sticky bit is who fills the hole in the Heart of Barrow?

Remember, you read it here first.

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