Borough of Barrow-in-Furness

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Borough of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow skyline.jpg
Skyline of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness UK locator map.svg
Shown within Cumbria
Coordinates(Barrow-In-Furness Town Centre): 54°06′42″N3°13′34″W / 54.11155°N 3.22614°W / 54.11155; -3.22614
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region North West England
Ceremonial county Cumbria
Historic county Lancashire
Founded1 April 1974 (1974-04-01)
Abolished31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
Admin. HQ Barrow Town Hall,
Barrow-in-Furness
Government
  TypeBarrow-in-Furness Borough Council
   Leadership:Alternative – Sec.31
   MPs: Simon Fell
Area
  Total30.08 sq mi (77.90 km2)
Population
 (2021)
  Total67,375
  Density2,200/sq mi (860/km2)
Time zone UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
  Summer (DST) UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Area code 01229
ONS code 16UC (ONS)
E07000027 (GSS)
Ethnicity (2021)95.7% White British
1.4% White Other
1.4% Asian
0.8% Mixed Race
0.4% Black
0.4 Other
Website www.barrowbc.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness was a local government district with borough status in Cumbria, England. It was named after its main town, Barrow-in-Furness. Other settlements included Dalton-in-Furness and Askam-in-Furness. It was the smallest district in Cumbria, but the most densely populated, with 924 people per square kilometre. The population was 71,980 in 2001, [1] reducing to 69,087 at the 2011 Census. [2]

Contents

In July 2021 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced that in April 2023, Cumbria would be reorganised into two unitary authorities. [3] On 1 April 2023, Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council was abolished and its functions transferred to the new authority Westmorland and Furness, which also covers the former districts of Eden and South Lakeland. [4]

Background

The area covered by the district was at the edge of the Furness peninsula. It jolted into the Irish Sea, being north of Morecambe Bay and south of the Duddon Estuary. The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the former county borough of Barrow-in-Furness and the Dalton-in-Furness urban district from the administrative county of Lancashire. Despite being one of England's smallest local authorities it had a coastline of 63 km and has equally diverse built and natural environments. This included 274 Listed buildings and four SSSIs, ranking as the seventh highest concentration of 325 districts on the English Heritage Index as of 2015. [5]

Barrow Borough Council

Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council sat at the Town Hall in Barrow. It was led by a mayor, who was elected by council members. In 2006, the Council was fined £125,000 for violation of health and safety laws that led to the deaths of seven people in the United Kingdom's worst outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. [ clarification needed ] The council also became the UK's first public body to be charged with corporate manslaughter, but was found not guilty. [6]

Following boundary changes in 2008, [7] the council was composed of 36 seats, elected across 13 wards. From 2011 the council switched from the previous system of elections occurring over a four-year cycle, with a third of seats elected each year and one 'fallow' year, to one where full council elections occur every four years. [8]

From its inception in 1973 until abolition in 2023, the council was often under Labour control, most recently from the 2011 election, but with three years of Conservative control (1976–1979) and ten years of no overall control (most recently from 2006 to 2011). [9]

Composition at abolition
As of 31 March 2023 [10]

AffiliationMembers
Labour Party 22
Conservative Party 8
Furness Independent Councillors3
Communist Party of Britain 1 [11]

Council wards

The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness comprised thirteen electoral wards, all of which can be seen on the map below.

Barrow-in-Furness UK ward map 2010 (blank).svg

Freedom of the Borough

The following people and military units had received the Freedom of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness.

Individuals

Military Units

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumbria</span> Ceremonial county of England

Cumbria is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders to the north, Northumberland and County Durham to the east, North Yorkshire to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. Its largest settlement is the city of Carlisle, which is also its county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrow-in-Furness</span> Town in Cumbria, England

Barrow-in-Furness is a port town and civil parish in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. Historically in Lancashire, it was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1867 and merged with Dalton-in-Furness Urban District in 1974 to form the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness. The borough was merged into the new Westmorland and Furness district in 2023. At the tip of the Furness peninsula, close to the Lake District, it is bordered by Morecambe Bay, the Duddon Estuary and the Irish Sea. In 2021, Barrow's population was 55,489, making it the second largest urban area in Cumbria after Carlisle, and the largest in the Westmorland and Furness unitary authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Lakeland</span> Former local government district in England

South Lakeland was a local government district in Cumbria, England, from 1974 to 2023. Its council was based in Kendal. The district covered the southern part of the Lake District region, as well as northwestern parts of the Yorkshire Dales. At the 2011 Census, the population of the district was 103,658, an increase from 102,301 at the 2001 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Copeland</span> Former borough and non-metropolitan district in England

The Borough of Copeland was a local government district with borough status in western Cumbria, England. Its council was based in Whitehaven. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the Borough of Whitehaven, Ennerdale Rural District and Millom Rural District. The population of the Non-Metropolitan district was 69,318 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 70,603 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allerdale</span> Former non-metropolitan district in England

Allerdale was a non-metropolitan district of Cumbria, England, with borough status. Its council – Allerdale Borough Council – was based in Workington, and the borough had a population of 96,422 at the 2011 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eden District</span> Former local government district in England

Eden was a local government district in Cumbria, England, based at Penrith Town Hall in Penrith. It was named after the River Eden, which flowed north through the district toward Carlisle. Its population of 49,777 at the 2001 census, increased to 52,564 at the 2011 Census. A 2019 estimate was 53,253. In July 2021 it was announced that, in April 2023, Cumbria would be divided into two unitary authorities. On 1 April 2023, Eden District Council was abolished and its functions transferred to the new authority Westmorland and Furness, which also covers the former districts of Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakeland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Harrogate</span> Former local government district in England

The Borough of Harrogate was a local government district with borough status in North Yorkshire, England, from 1974 to 2023. Its council was based in the town of Harrogate, but it also included surrounding settlements, including the cathedral city of Ripon, and almost all of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At the 2011 Census, the borough had a population of 157,869.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furness</span> Peninsula and region of Cumbria, England

Furness is a peninsula and region of Cumbria, England. Together with the Cartmel Peninsula it forms North Lonsdale, historically an exclave of Lancashire. On 1 April 2023 it became part of the new unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalton-in-Furness</span> Town in England

Dalton-in-Furness is a town in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England, 4 miles (6 km) north east of Barrow-in-Furness. Along with the rest of the Furness peninsula, it was historically part of Lancashire. It is in the parish of Dalton Town with Newton, alongside the nearby hamlet of Newton-in-Furness. In 2011 it had a population of 7,827.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walney Island</span> Island in the United Kingdom

Walney Island, also known as the Isle of Walney, is an island off the west coast of England, at the western end of Morecambe Bay in the Irish Sea. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, it is part of Barrow-in-Furness, separated from the mainland by Walney Channel, which is spanned by the Jubilee Bridge. Walney is the largest island of the Furness Islands group, both in population and size, as well as the largest English island in the Irish Sea. Its population at the 2011 UK Census was 10,651, distributed evenly across the island's two Wards of Walney North and Walney South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Barrow and Furness, formerly known as Barrow-in-Furness, is a UK Parliament constituency in Cumbria. It has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Michelle Scrogham of the Labour Party since 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkshead</span> Human settlement in England

Hawkshead is a village and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. It lies within the Lake District National Park and was historically part of Lancashire. The parish includes the hamlets of Hawkshead Hill, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the north west, and Outgate, a similar distance north. Hawkshead contains one primary school and four public houses.

Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council in Cumbria, England, was elected every four years. This was changed in 2011 from the previous situation where one-third of the council was elected each year, followed by one year where there was an election to Cumbria County Council instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumbria County Council</span> Former local authority in England

Cumbria County Council was the county council for the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria in the North West of England. Established in April 1974, following its first elections held the previous year, it was an elected local government body responsible for the most significant local services in the area, including schools, roads, and social services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindpool</span> Human settlement in England

Hindpool is an area and electoral ward of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It is bordered by Barrow Island, Central Barrow, Ormsgill, Parkside and the Walney Channel, the local population stood at 5,851 in 2011. The ward covers the entire western half of the town centre and includes Barrow's main shopping district. Other local landmarks include the Furness College Channelside campus, the Dock Museum and the Main Public Library. Hindpool is also home to two stadia - Barrow Raiders' Craven Park and Barrow A.F.C.'s Holker Street.

Structural changes to local government in England took place between 2019 and 2023. Some of these changes continue the trend of new unitary authorities being created from other types of local government districts, which was a policy of Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick from 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalton Town with Newton</span> Human settlement in England

Dalton Town with Newton is a civil parish in Westmorland and Furness Unitary Authority, in the county of Cumbria, England. The parish includes the town of Dalton-in-Furness and the hamlet of Newton. In 2011 it had a population of 8,125. The parish touches Aldingham, Askam and Ireleth, Lindal and Marton and Urswick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland and Furness</span> District in Cumbria, England

Westmorland and Furness is a unitary authority area in Cumbria, England. The economy is mainly focused on tourism around both the Lake District and Cumbria Coast, shipbuilding and the port in Barrow-in-Furness, and agriculture in the rural parts of the area.

The 2022 Westmorland and Furness Council election was held on 5 May 2022 to elect members of Westmorland and Furness Council in England. The council area will consist of the area covered by the districts of Barrow-in-Furness, Eden and South Lakeland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland and Furness Council</span> Local authority of Westmorland and Furness, England

Westmorland and Furness Council is the local authority for Westmorland and Furness, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, England. It is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since its creation in 2023. It has its official headquarters at the Town Hall and adjoining South Lakeland House in Kendal, with additional offices in Barrow-in-Furness and Penrith.

References

  1. UK Census (2001). "Local Area Report – Barrow-in-Furness Local Authority (E07000027)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Barrow-in-Furness Local Authority (E07000027)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. "Next steps for new unitary councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset". GOV.UK . 21 July 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. "Future for Cumbrian councils". Local Government Reorganisation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  5. "Explore the Heritage Index for England". The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. "How Legionnaires' struck Barrow". BBC News Online . 31 July 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  7. "The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness (Electoral Changes) Order 2008". legislation.gov.uk . Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  8. "Whole Council Elections". Barrow Borough Council. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  9. "England council elections". BBC News . 10 May 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  10. "Your Councillors". Barrow Borough Council. 28 March 2023.
  11. Walker, Ben [@BNHWalker] (28 March 2023). "Communist Party of Britain now has elected representation - a Cllr Iain Mooney on Barrow Borough Council. A defection from Lab to Comm" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 March 2024 via Twitter.
  12. Young, Ambrose (25 September 2022). "Margaret Burrow MBE awarded the Freedom of Barrow". The North-West Evening Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  13. "Submariners to exercise Freedom of Barrow". Royal Navy . 8 June 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  14. "Submariners exercise the Freedom of the Borough of Barrow". Royal Navy. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2022.