A QUESTION mark is hanging over the future of a vital service after vandals struck at its base.

Trustees at Barrow Citizens Advice have to decide whether services can continue to be delivered from Ramsden Hall.

Bosses say over recent weeks the building has been targeted by vandals who have repeatedly broken ground floor windows using bricks taken from the rubble at the adjacent House of Lords.

Concern for the safety of staff and members of the public has grown after a rock that broke a first-floor window narrowly missed a worker who was directly in the line of fire.

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Christine McKinlay, Barrow Citizens Advice Chief Officer, said: “Our staff should be able to go about their work safely and those needing our help should not be at risk from whoever is doing this.

"The near-miss happened just after 12.30pm on Friday in broad daylight; when Abbey Road was busy with traffic and members of the public passing by.

"It really doesn’t bear thinking about how badly someone could have been hurt.”

She added: “Our charity cannot afford the cost of repairs, now £2,000 and counting, or the disruption to our services at a time when people need us more than ever.

"We’ve now had to board up all the ground floor windows which means half of our interview rooms cannot be used. Staff have also had to move to other parts of the building so they have natural light and ventilation.

"But these can only be temporary measures. If more windows are broken then we won’t be able to work from Ramsden Hall.”

Steve Trainer, Chair of Trustees, said: “Barrow Citizens Advice does not wish to stop its important face-to-face service which, we feel, is a vital amenity for our local clients. We have asked the council to secure the car park to prevent further incidents and we have also requested that CCTV is installed.

"Ultimately, we have a responsibility for the safety of our staff and the people who come to us for help, however we may have no choice but to close our office should these attacks continue.

"Reports of all incidents have been made to the police.”

Additionally, they say there has also been two thefts of lead from the roof at the front of the building and a possible attempted break-in. Barrow Citizens Advice has appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity to the police.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: "We received a report on April 1 that a brick had been thrown at a window at the address, smashing one of the panes.

"This occurred at around 12.35pm.

"We appeal for anyone with information about this incident to come forward.

"Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit , quoting incident number 29 of 1 April 2022. You can also phone on 101.

"Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

This is the second such incident which has been reported to the police.

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