I hope everyone is ready for the holidays as schools break up for summer and people begin planning their getaways.

There's certainly a lot happening in Macclesfield over the coming months, with plenty of activities taking place in our town centre.

Supporting and revitalising the town centre has always been a key priority for me. I've been working hard to bring together community stakeholders to agree on the actions needed to drive regeneration and boost footfall on our high street. This has included meeting with local businesses, community organisations, and landlords, much of it through the Town Centre Regeneration Group, which I support alongside the Town Council.

A major issue continues to be the high cost of business rates and rents. Walking down Mill Street, it's clear how difficult this is as too many units remain empty simply because they are unaffordable for many businesses. That's why I support and welcome the feasibility study commissioned by the Town Council to explore the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) in the heart of town. This could be a game changer for Macclesfield. If successful it could also be a great example to other surrounding towns and high streets in the constituency.

I've also been in discussions with the owners of the former M&S site to explore new possibilities for this large, unused space. I've also spoken with developers about Town Centre living to see how that could help increase the number of residents using the shops, bars, and restaurants. It works elsewhere so why not here?

One thing is certain: if we're willing to think outside of the box and work together, we can find a way forward for Macclesfield town centre. A way that brings new life and opportunity to the town but also offers a future that is sustainable.