Last updated at 17:01, Tuesday, 29 January 2013

A PLEDGE has been made to retain a service that gives vital advice to Barrow’s most vulnerable people.

As part of Barrow Borough Council’s budget proposals, plans were made for the Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management Team to vacate its premises in Dalton Road and take up residence in Barrow Town Hall.

The group has been based on the high street for more than five years and acts as a hub for community and support groups such as Cumbria Mental Health Group and the New Roots drug and alcohol support service.

Police, employees from the fire and health services, street wardens and Police Community Support Officers also use the centre.

The council had originally planned to close the Dalton Road office, which would have saved £12,000 a year, but councillors have now rallied to keep it open. At a meeting of Barrow Borough Council’s executive committee, members called for the offices to remain open.

Councillor Kevin Hamilton said: “Can I very much make a plea that provision is made for the team to be based in Dalton Road?

“The amount of footfall they get is documented and it’s not made up. I think they get about 11,000 people going into those offices every year.

“I think that by doing this (moving the team) we risk the services that are going on there.”

Councillor Brendan Sweeney seconded the proposal to keep the office opened, stressing the importance of it acting as one of the main collection points for the Barrow Food Bank and offering support services as government cuts continue.

He said: “I really did not think this time last year that we would see a food bank operating in Barrow.

“But the fact that we do is another reason for having the Neighbourhood Management premises as we will need that facility to support those who are most in need.”

The committee agreed to support the proposal to keep the office opened and a final decision on the council’s budget proposals will be made at full council on February 26.

First published at 16:36, Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk