A ROW has broken out over a £50,000 project designed to shape the future of Barrow.

The New Constellation project invited 14 council officers and members of the public to explore what the area could become if it fully reflected the potential of its incredible residents, Barrow Council said.

Conservative Cllr Martin Mc Leavy, who represents Roosecote, has walked out on the National Lottery-backed project and described it as 'arty-farty and woolly waste of £50,000'.

But council leader Ann Thomson issued a strong defence of the project saying it sought to 'bring a different perspective to the way we look at our present and future.'

Participants are being given the space and tools to co-create a new vision for Barrow’s future.

The aim is to hear the experiences and hopes from the group's members then collectively they will map a new story for the Barrow borough.

The outcomes will be shared so that they can help inform the strategy processes for the area.

Cllr McLeavy said: “I thought it would be different than what it was. It wasn’t what I expected when I got to the presentation.

“When it started it was all soothing music and candles and close your eyes. I thought ‘good God, what have I got myself into here?’ A voice asked ‘what do you want for brilliant Barrow.’ Well I live in the real world and to call a spade a spade. Some areas of the town are a bit of a dump, quite frankly.’

“You must be honest; you can’t keep saying it’s brilliant with your head in the sand."

He added: “The constellation project is an arty-farty and woolly waste of £50,000. I just didn’t get it. I am very worried at what influence this has on official council policy. It made me feel extremely uncomfortable.

“By saying Barrow is wonderful all the time is wrong, you have to accept that something is wrong. Barrow has great people, but the town is a mess and if you can’t accept that, then change it.”

Cllr Thomson said: “Barrow’s New Constellation is an aspirational project which seeks to bring a different perspective to the way we look at our present and future.

“The project is fully funded with a £50,000 lottery grant and has the full support of the borough council. We have signed up to working in a different way with our residents as part of the agreement for our council plan.”