I welcome the news that two much-valued shopping parades in Moss Bank are to be regenerated and refurbished, a move which will create exciting opportunities to enhance services for local people and shop owners alike.

As residents will remember, the shops at Wythburn Crescent were irreparably damaged in 2018 following a break-in which resulted in a fire. A separate structural issue with the parade at Bassenthwaite Avenue also led to residential tenants being rehoused in 2019.

I’m glad that Torus have listened to the many representations made by myself and local councillors, as well as those concerns directly aired by over a thousand local people during the consultation period.

This victory is certainly one for local people, who knew and understood all along just why these shopping areas were needed by our community.