Following the recent announcement by the Ministry of Defence that Claro and Deverell Barracks are set to close next year, I have been writing to public bodies, councillors and members of the public inviting them to a summit in Ripon to discuss the announced closures.

Everyone is disappointed by the decision to close the barracks, but we need to move forward and ensure that we make the best of these sites for the citizens of Ripon. I look forward to meeting everyone involved in these next steps and will help in any way I can to ensure the best possible results for our city.