Cllr Alan Pemberton (Conservative, Hawcoat) has championed the apirational cause for a crossing over Morecambe Bay since first being elected to Barrow Borough Council in 2009, but became more heavily involved in campaigning around 2013.
He has written letters to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State for transport, whilst making the case to Chris Grayling personally, during a vist ot Barrow and Furness, in November 2018.
Commenting, Cllr. Pemberton said: “The new causeways would also have a tremendous impact on the Barrow, Millom and West Coast areas should the Duddon Estuary also be built.
“The barrages will produce electricity at an economical price compared to nuclear energy and will get cheaper as the years go on.
“Not only would the roadway on top be hugely beneficial to people in the local area, but the “tidal gateways” would also produce electricity and work towards reducing the carbon emissions of the area.
“We are being told that environmental damage is the biggest challenge the world is currently facing and this would help in combatting that.
“For this project to be successful, we need our Members of Parliament and the people of Barrow and Millom to get behind this idea and demand politicians look at it seriously and not simply fob it off.
“The image of Barrow as a town is one that has been partially destroyed by the problems of getting to and from the area.
“Reducing the the commuting time from Barrow to junction 34 to around 20 minutes has the potential to open up areas like Manchester and Preston.
“This project has the potential to revolutionise the lives of the people in Barrow and the reputation of the town.
“I’m hoping this petition will get the support it needs to actually get something done around here.
“The people of Barrow are wonderful people but there is too much negativity about the town.
“To make real change in the town we need to fight for everything and not give up and accept defeat.
He went on to say: “Too many students who are going to university from Barrow don’t return to the area.
“Between 2017 and 2018, deaths in the area outweighed births.
“The young people simply aren’t staying.
“The bridge will open up all sorts of other options like tourism and other opportunities.”
Barrow and Furness Conservatives join Cllr. Pemberton in his calls for making the case to government for the crossing. You can add your name to our petition below.