CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride, who spent several years campaigning against the last Labour Government’s Post Office closure programme, has expressed his delight with the current Government’s decision to invest £370 million in the future of the Post Office.

The money will be spent on extending opening hours, cutting queue times and protecting rural branches.

The move brings the total invested by the Government in the Post Office network since 2010 to £2 billion and it says it will secure the future of the network.

Mr Stride said: “Under the last Labour government more than 7,300 Post Offices closed down across the UK, while since March 2010, fewer than 300 Post Offices have closed their doors, meaning that the overall size of the network has stabilised at more than 11,600 branches.

"The Post Office has moved into profit for the first time in 16 years which is essential for the future sustainability of the network and this additional investment will make a big difference.”

In August, with Joanna Giles from Ashburton Post Office, Mr Stride launched a major local forum within Central Devon to promote local Post Offices and help branches share innovative ideas and best practice.

The event, held at Dartmoor National Park HQ in Bovey Tracey and believed to be a UK first, drew representatives from various branches within the constituency including Buckfast, Buckfastleigh, Belstone, Chagford, Crediton, Christow, Exbourne, Liverton, Manaton, Moretonhampstead and North Tawton as well as some from outside the constituency.

Alan Quick