Island shelter restored after successful campaign

A 92-year-old former bus shelter has been refurbished and re-opened after a campaign to save the structure.

Standing on the Walney Island side of Jubilee Bridge in Barrow-in-Furness, it has needed work since one of its pillars crumbled just after Christmas 2020.

Built in 1934, it was in danger of demolition until residents and Councillor Frank Cassidy fought to save it.

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the refurbishment, Cassidy said: "Down the years the shelter has served as a meeting place and an unofficial noticeboard, with messages draped across its frontage, and as far as I'm concerned that can continue."

In 2020 the councillor swept up debris from the crumbled pillar and said he knew then there was "a long fight ahead" to save it.

Fellow campaigner Les Trotter said the shelter had "deteriorated quite badly" but he was pleased the efforts to save it had "come good".

Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham cut the red ribbon to re-open the shelter, accompanied by children from South Walney Infant and Nursery School, its chair of governors Julie Pearson and teacher Ms Hilary Ridgway.

Contracts manager Kirk Whitehead said of the refurb: "We wanted to honour the original craftsmanship while making sure the shelter is ready for the next hundred years of island life.

"It's been inspiring to see how much history the structure holds."

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