The Nan Tait Building is an important part of Barrow-in-Furness. It is home to our local registry office and Women's Community Matters, an organisation that provides vital support and services to women in our community.

Westmorland and Furness Council has declared the building surplus to requirements and is exploring transferring it to another organisation or disposing of it. As residents, we believe this decision deserves proper public scrutiny.

Barrow has already lost too many shops, services and historic buildings over the years. We should not continue to lose important public assets while millions of pounds are invested in civic buildings elsewhere in the council area.

We are not asking the council to ignore financial pressures. We are asking for fairness, transparency and a genuine commitment to Barrow.

We call on Westmorland and Furness Council to:

Keep the Nan Tait Building in public use wherever possible.

Retain the registry office in the building, or clearly explain why this cannot be done.

Ensure Women's Community Matters can continue providing its services without disruption.

Publish the full evidence for declaring the building surplus.

Carry out meaningful public consultation before any final decision is made.

Commit to fair investment in Barrow-in-Furness so our town is not left behind.

The Nan Tait Building is more than bricks and mortar. It is part of Barrow's history and continues to serve the people of our town. Once public buildings are lost, they are rarely recovered.

We urge Westmorland and Furness Council to listen to the people of Barrow and work with the community to secure the building's future for generations to come.