Removing the M and S store to an out of town development would deprive the town centre of an important focal point that attracts trade and customers to the area.

The recent success in securing the Zurbaran paintings and the redevelopment work to transform Auckland Castle into a vibrant tourist destination promises to bring significant benefits to the area.

However a crucial element of reviving the area as a successful tourist destination is the contribution prospective tourists will make to the local economy; retaining major retail stores like Marks and Spencer in the town centre is the best way to maximise this.

Christine Atkinson is to be congratulated for the sterling work she has done in leading the campaign to keep the store in the town centre and organising a petition.

I would strongly encourage others to sign the petition and support her campaign.

The Chancellor’s decision to slap VAT charges on listed building alterations has sent the cost of maintaining a number of historic buildings in my constituency through the roof.

An example of this is the grade II listed St Paul’s Church in Evenwood, which will be stung for an extra £24,000 in VAT charges to foot the cost of updating their heating and lighting facilities.

Moreover the Grade I listed St Mary’s Church in Barnard Castle will be hit with a whopping VAT charge of over £38,000 for improvements to its lighting system.

Buildings such as these are part of the area’s rich historic character, which must be preserved for future generations. Making it more expensive to maintain historic buildings is both ludicrous and culturally disastrous.

Our region’s historic buildings are an asset to be cherished not a commodity to be taxed.

The Tory led coalition’s decision to impose a tax hike on listed building alterations, whilst giving a tax cut to the wealthy, shows a government with the wrong priorities.