Maria Eagle, MP for Garston and Halewood, carried out the official opening of a brand-new Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Belle Vale, Liverpool.

Local affordable housing developer Lovell helped convert the former One Stop Shop into the new advice centre.

A construction team from the company created a new office area where advisers can speak with clients, by installing a curving partition wall and carrying out redecoration work. The project was carried out for free by Lovell – which is currently building a new housing scheme for residents aged 55 and over nearby for social housing provider Riverside – as part of its commitment to supporting local community organisations.

Ms Eagle was also shown round the new housing development during her visit.

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Citizens Advice Bureau manager Heather Brent said: "This support from Lovell means a tremendous amount to us and the local community who will be using the new facilities. Thanks to their help in carrying out the construction work to create the new office space, we will be opening the building far sooner than we imagined.

"Following the closure of the building as the former One Stop Shop it seemed a great shame to let the building go to waste. This project has been a real collaboration between the different agencies for the benefit of the local community and was only possible thanks to the help of Janet Kent, our local councillor, and Christina Williams, team leader – South Neighbourhoods, who worked with Liverpool City Council to secure the building for use as a Citizens Advice Bureau. The generosity of Lovell has been fundamental in adapting the building for use as an advice service. The Committee of East Liverpool CAB are very excited about this move and we anticipate that the Bureau will be very busy. We are looking to recruit new volunteers and would be very interested in hearing from people if they would like to contact us on 0151 522 1407."

Lovell regional director Nigel Yates said: "The CAB provides an invaluable information and advice service. As a company, we aim to provide a lasting legacy of benefits for communities wherever we work and were only too pleased to step in and enable this important community facility to open in Belle Vale."

(CD/IT)