BARROW's case for cash to boost use and appreciation of its heritage, natural and community assets has been presented to the government.

The Islands and Bays of Barrow-in-Furness Coastal Community Team is one of 118  given £10,000 to kick-start work and get expert guidance to help shape future prosperity.

Projects suggested by the team will now compete for a slice of government cash - since 2012 more than £117m has been spent on 222 projects across the United Kingdom through the Coastal Communities Fund.

The Barrow team represents a diverse collection of organisations and individuals supporting and enhancing existing initiatives to develop the future of towns and villages in the Barrow borough.

The team was asked by Communities Secretary Greg Clark to demonstrate all the pressures and opportunities of the area - with its buoyant economy and a need to hold on to highly skilled workers but also with high levels of deprivation and many health problems. 

The team discovered that Barrow came top of all 325 English boroughs for the quality of its landscape and the number of its nature reserves.

The team’s plan is to focus on ways of connect the extraordinary natural and industrial assets around Barrow's islands and bays with their communities, so that Barrow will be acknowledged nationally as a great place to live and work in.

The programme outlined for the Barrow area includes a green infrastructure plan to see what historic and green spaces there are.

Other potential projects include promotion of a heritage iron coast from Askam  to Barrow, a scheme for blue plaques to highlight significant Furness people and studies of the town's shipbuilding heritage and of industrial housing in places like Vickerstown, Barrow and Askam.

There could also be viewing or interpretation places for military sites from both world wars.

A Furness Ranger role could be developed to encourage volunteers to help at nature sites.

A longer-term scheme could develop the attractions of the coastline at Biggar Bank, Earnse Bay, the Ormsgill Slagbank or the beach between Askam and Dunnerholme.

The coastal team was also keen to find sustainable ways to improve use and access to some of the area's natural assets and show how this could bring health benefits.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: "Our Great British Coast has enormous economic potential and we are determined to see it thrive all year round – not just in the summer months.

"The huge number of plans submitted, demonstrate the wave of optimism, and wealth of creative and practical ideas to boost economic lift-off.

“I now want to see their hard work and enthusiasm come to fruition by helping to deliver their ideas through the Coastal Community teams.”

Maddi Nicholson of Art Gene, representing the Islands and Bays of Barrow

and Furness Coastal Community Team, said: "It has also been really exciting to work with a great set of people to learn what makes us proud of Barrow.

"We have had an amazing opportunity to present to Central Government how unique our town and landscape are, making a case for future funding of community led projects in our area."

A total of 118 Coastal Community Teams were created last year and given a share of £1.18m to help drive forward coastal areas growth.

The local economic plans submitted to government by the teams cover areas

including housing, business opportunities, jobs and skills, health and civic pride.

For more information about the Government’s work to revive coastal communities contact Patrick Coyne, patrick.coyne@communities.gsi.gov.uk, 030 3444 4326.  

For more information about Barrow’s coastal community team contact Maddi

Nicholson on 01229 825085.