#Ports&Shipping - The Irish Sea Port of Barrow in north-west England, welcomed Tim Farron, the British MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, who had an exclusive tour of the Cumbrian port and to find out more about its history and operations.

According to ports group, Associated British Ports (ABP), during the visit, the local MP was given a a presentation by the Divisional Port Manager, Carl Bevan, explaining how port facilities and safety procedures have evolved throughout the years as well as an overview of the port’s latest economic successes.

Tim Farron MP, said: “I was delighted to take a tour of ABP’s Port of Barrow and meet with their Divisional Port Manager, Carl Bevan. The port is a really important part of Cumbria’s growth and is a vital job provider for South Cumbria. Following the celebration of its 150th anniversary last year and recent investments in infrastructure, the future of the port and the region looks bright.”

To demonstrate ABP’s latest investments in infrastructure and equipment, the presentation was followed by a guided tour around the port’s facilities.

Carl Bevan, ABP Divisional Port Manager, North West Coast, said: “We were delighted to welcome Tim Farron MP to our port and hope that the visit successfully brought to life our vision of how we can support the local economy and keep Britain trading in future.

“We are proud that together with the Ports of Garston, Silloth and Fleetwood, ABP’s port of Barrow supports more than 8,100 jobs in the North West.”

A research study conducted by Edge Economics, which was published in November 2017, found that future growth prospects could see the Port of Barrow’s annual contribution to the UK economy grow by £30 million in the next decade.

To download a copy of The Port of Barrow: Cumbria’s Gateway to Growth please visit the ABP website here