www.thecumbriachronic.co.uk – Page 9 – thecumbriachronic.co.uk

CRUMBRIA: 6.7.2026

BARROVIANS worried about The Forum should look away now.

A national theatres watchdog has just added the disappearing Duke Street venue to its list of “at risk theatres” in the UK, which are those facing neglect, closure or extinction.

We’re not surprised.

In March, the Lib Dem dictatorship at W&F rushed through demolition plans for the asbestos-hit building and Barrow Market Hall – with no replacement lined-up.

The theatres watchdog, a national advisory body, has just come out and confirmed what the Chronic forecast at the time:

The Clowncil has no plan for Forum 2.

The Theatres Trust has just told the media: “The Council has announced plans to demolish the entire site and there are no public plans or firm financial commitment to provide an alternative venue for the town.”

That hasn’t stopped Council PR men – operating from the shadows of Kendal Town Hall – from trying to pull the wool over the public’s eyes.

In a response to what the Theatres Trust said, the Council’s silver-tongued salesmen tried to downplay The Forum’s loss by hinting at future “new cultural facilities”, “new cultural venues” and broader “arts and cultural provision” in Barrow.

But NOWHERE in the Council’s smoke and mirrors statement is a commitment that Barrow WILL GET a replacement theatre.

The latest Council statement failed to say:

Where a replacement Forum would be built
When one would open
How much it would cost
Who is going to pay

As the Chronic has said before, the Council thought it could get shot of The Forum and then pass the buck for replacing it to ‘Team Barrow’.

So far, Team Barrow has passed it back.

It looks like the Council’s “transformational vision” for Barrow is to transform the town’s only theatre into a demolition site, and then transform its ruins into a “conversation” about culture.

Barrovians unhappy about this shite state of affairs are reminded that elections to Westmorland & Furness Council take place in May 2027.

By then, it’ll be too late to stop the bulldozers.

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