UNANIMOUS support was given by councillors to plans for a group to explore opening up an iconic building in Barrow for tours.

All members of Barrow Borough Council's overview and scrutiny committee gave their endorsement to the idea of a Friends of Barrow Town Hall group applying for heritage funding at a meeting today.

READ MORE: Bid to open Barrow Town Hall to public for weekends and special tours

It's hoped members of the public may one day be able to look around the Duke Street landmark at weekends, discovering all about the 19th century building's decorated history and its many interesting exhibits.
Barrow Town Hall.

Last week, the Evening Mail attended a trial run of a tour of the Grade II* venue and the suggestion that it might become a permanent thing has received strong backing by the public.

A poll on the Evening Mail website saw nine out of 10 respondents backing the idea of the building opening at weekends for special tours and events.

Long-term goal

Councillor Anita Husband, the mayor of Barrow, took part in the first tour and hopes it will boost tourism and visit numbers.

She told the meeting: "I think it was quite successful.

"We can train somebody up to do the tours."

The next step for the Friends of Barrow Town Hall is to hold a meeting and develop an action plan to bid for funding to make the project a reality.

Support needed

Cllr Ann Thomson, who was nominated as chair, said it was crucial to get everybody at the authority on board with the idea.

She said: "I don't mind forming a small group to make that plan but we need a commitment from officers that we will get the OK to continue the process.

"At the moment [the town hall] is totally inaccessible."

Councillor Frank Cassidy, Barrow Borough Council member for Walney South, said it was important to "manage expectations".