AN MP has written a heartfelt post on what he loves about Colchester at the start of the new year.

Will Quince has been Colchester MP since May 2015 after defeating Liberal Democrat MP Sir Bob Russell in the General Election.

In a post on social media, he has encouraged residents to include promoting Colchester and surrounding areas as one of their new year’s resolutions.

Mr Quince said: “Some people seem to love to talk Colchester down seeing the negatives but forgetting the many positives and the reasons why so many people choose to make Colchester their home.

“The negative voices are the minority but too often these negative voices drown out many of the good things that are happening in and around Colchester and that is to the detriment of us all.

“Colchester, like any comparable size town or city, has its problems, whether it’s congestion, the state of roads and pavements, empty shops or an out-of-town shopping development that is poaching big retailers from the city centre.

“However, there are so many more positives about Colchester, and we shouldn’t lose sight of these and how lucky we are to call Colchester our home.”

Mr Quince wrote about different features of the city that make it great including its environmental scene with award winning green spaces like Highwoods Country Park and Castle Park as well as Colchester’s close proximity to coastal attractions in Frinton and Walton.

The MP also praised the regionally renowned Mercury Theatre which recently had a multi-million-pound redevelopment, Firstsite, the city’s award winning art gallery and the popular Colchester Arts Centre

Mr Quince added: “Our city is home to world class education establishments from the University of Essex, Colchester Institute, University Centre, Colchester, Colchester sixth Form College, our grammar schools, secondary schools and primary schools and early years settings.

“Colchester has a long military heritage of which we are rightly proud and with Colchester being the permanent home of the elite of the British Army, 16 Air Assault Brigade, we are the home of heroes who step up at short notice willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the freedoms we hold dear. “

To read Mr Quince’s full statement visit bit.ly/3VEPvlF.