A WELL-RESPECTED former vicar who was awarded an MBE for his voluntary work in Barrow has spoken of his sadness after returning to the town to find it "in a state".

Father Mark Edwards served at St Mary’s Church in Ulverston, St John’s on Barrow Island and St Francis in Ormsgill for more than 10 years as well as volunteering for Duddon Inshore Rescue from 2003 to 2008.

Father Mark, as he is affectionately known, reluctantly moved to the North East in 2008 after his licence was not renewed by the Bishop of Carlisle, and has served as a vicar in Newcastle and Chaplain to Northumbria police since.

In 2010 he was awarded the MBE for services to Barrow and has also been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for services as an emergency first responder.

He returned to Barrow at the weekend - an experience which sparked a passionate letter to The Mail and to call on Barrow Borough Council to do more about the degeneration of the town.


It came as quite a shock to discover just how dirty and unkempt some areas off Barrow had become," he said.

"Dalton Road is a prime example, it resembles to be quite frank one giant rubbish bin.

"What surprised me is that some of the shops that were open on the Sunday were quite content and happy to allow the rubbish to accumulate in their door way.

"Thornton’s is one example of piles of rubbish that had accumulated around the outside tables and chairs. The back of Debenhams again; the steps leading up to the entrance were covered in litter.

"In both case no one from either shop took responsibility for removing the litter from their entrance. The whole of Dalton Road from top to bottom was a sea of litter.

"Visiting the marina, a recent development that was suppose to attract visitors to Barrow, has just been neglected to the point that weeds grow out of the paving stones and the steel gates have become rusty.

"I raised my concerns about the state Barrow has been allowed to get in with some local people. They agreed that Barrow is becoming an unkempt and dirty place to live and shop.

"Most people I spoke to blame the degeneration on cutbacks to public services and simply expressed to me that the council don't seem to care that the town is in such a filthy mess. I feel sadden by what I saw as a visitor to this once proud town."

Father Mark highlighted cuts which have resulted in fewer street cleaning services and no weed-spraying by Barrow Borough Council. He added that while it was clear some money had been spent on regeneration, it was a "false economy" to cut back on public services in such a way.

"I would like to challenge members of Barrow Council to take a long hard look at what is happening to the town they represent and ask themselves the question how can we allow this to continue?" he said.

"What can they do as elected representatives to put pride back into Barrow?

"I would suggest just picking up the litter and doing some weeding would be a step in the right direction and ether repaint and repair those old red telephone boxes outside the library or remove them. They are an eyesore.

"That aside the wedding of my friend at Barrow Town Hall, the seat of local government, was a wonderful occasion and it was good to be back in my adopted town even if I am sadden by what I saw. The people of Barrow are wonderful and really do deserve something better than to make do."