LIBERAL Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Torridge and West Devon, Adam Symons recently announced that the Lib Dems would not allow a single Post Office in close in Torridge and West Devon.

Speaking to residents on a visit to Buckland Brewer, which has recently lost its village shop, Adam said: "The residents of Buckland Brewer fought hard to keep their post office, but once that was lost, the shop was not viable. Having knocked on almost every door of the village it is clear there is considerable anger at the loss of these facilities. Compounding residents' misery is the cut of funding of the Saturday bus to Bideford."

"Under successive Conservative and Labour Governments, over 6,000 post offices have closed nationally. Locally, over 20 have shut in Torridge and West Devon, including Shebbear, Clovelly, East-the-Water, and Sutcombe."

He continued: "Post Offices are the life blood of our communities. You cannot just take them away and expect nothing to happen. During the recent closures we were the only major party who campaigned to turn post offices into community hubs. We would provide £2billion in additional investment to upgrade post offices, and make them fit for purpose for what their communities want.

"We are missing a trick in this country. In the government's headlong rush to make the post office profitable, they have forgotten about the real bottom line — that it is communities that matter. We would ensure not a single Post Office closes."