I WOULD like to thank everyone who voted for me in Spennymoor in the Durham County Council elections on May 4.

My congratulations go to the members of the Spennymoor Independent Group, who now have a very strong mandate. Also, I would encourage them to use their new influence on Spennymoor Town Council to urge Durham County Council to regenerate the outdated Festival Walk shopping centre in its entirety, rather that moving one existing store from one place to another.

Due to the trends towards online and out of town shopping, we don’t need so many shops as there are at present and I would suggest that the re-connection of the High Street shops would suffice. The spare land could be used for extra free car parking and/or a community building.

I am sure that the new Liberal Democrat member of the town council, Dean Ranyard, would give his full support. Myself, as an honorary alderman would use my influence to support the new administration on Spennymoor Town Council.

I hope that the new county council cabinet member for regeneration can soon put his or her weight behind any fully constructive proposals for Festival Walk. He or she should look at upgrading the area around the Tivoli picture house site. It has been fenced off for years and is a pure waste of vital land.

The parking area at the Bishop’s Close Health Centre needs to be updated, to meet the extra demands, due to our population increase.

Ben Ord, Spennymoor Liberal Democrat