A SIX-WEEK period allowing residents to air their concerns about a series of potential developments plotted across Barrow borough in the next 15 years has been initiated by the council.

From today, the people of Barrow borough are being encouraged to voice any grievances with regards to the council's local plan, which sets out housing, employment and infrastructure developments over the next 15 years.

The key aspects outlined in the plan are proposals to classify 38 sites as suitable for housing - with a capacity of up of 1,990 homes - as well as 10 sites for employment opportunities, aimed at creating a number of new jobs.

Barrow borough council leader, Dave Pidduck, has urged people to make the most of the consultation period.

He said: "Local plans are obviously of the utmost importance for everybody within the borough and as part of the consultation we want people to make comments and have their say. People have to be confident about what is going on.

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"This local plan is tied into the economic developments that are set to come to the borough with BAE and other big businesses and we can't afford to miss these opportunities that have been presented to us."

Controversially, 30 of the 38 housing sites will be built on greenfield land in Barrow, Dalton, Askam and Ireleth, Lindal and Newton.

Mr Pidduck added: "I think sometimes people need to look at the bigger picture. Everyone of us could adopt an attitude praising developments but not wanting them to take place near our homes and that is just human nature.

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"However, that is why we need to sit down with people and show them how developments will help the borough. We will all be affected by it and that is why we all need to have a say in this plan.

"Until we get feedback we won't know how people feel and that is why I believe that everybody should be involved in this process."

Comments and suggestions should be emailed from 4pm today until Monday October 17 to developmentplans@barrowbc.gov.uk.

Eight public drop-in consultations will also be held across a 16-day period from Wednesdayand you can view the full list of events here.

The consultation document is available to view online at www.barrowbc.gov.uk.

Paper copies of the document can also be viewed at the following locations:

 Barrow Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

 Dalton Town Hall, Station Road, Dalton in Furness, Cumbria, LA15 8DT

 Libraries in Askam, Barrow, Barrow Island, Dalton, Roose and Walney