Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross has been showing his support to the campaign to keep sub-post offices open by visiting many in the district.
In the last few years many have closed and government officials believe a further 2,500 may have to shut up shop to keep a feasible service and finish consult on the issue on Thursday. The Post Office will then decide the fate of the sub-post offices.
Mr Younger-Ross is supporting the Save The Sub-Post Office campaign and has picked up anti closure petitions at many of the post offices signed by thousands of residents. He, like many residents, believes the sub-post offices are a vital resource to the community. 'I've had a successful number of meetings at sub post offices in the district and clearly a lot of people are concerned that their post office may be at risk of closure,' he said.
'At every post office I went to there was a queue at the counter and if we were to remove post offices from these towns people may well have to drive to get to their nearest post office. 'We know 2,500 post offices will close and we are doing is trying to cut that number back. 'We have 40 post offices in the area and know around six or seven may close and we all need to come together to fight to save these post offices. As of yet we do not know which will close'
Dunsford sub-post office mistress Ilona Lapka also believed the facility was essential to villagers. 'The closures are of great concern to us. We only have the shop and post office in Dunsford and without the post office I don't think the shop would survive,' she said. 'A lot of villagers don't drive and wouldn't be able to get to another post office, it really is vital.'
Ian Wills, postmaster at Brimley sub-post office, Bovey Tracey, agreed. 'We all want the post office to stay open and so do the customers,' said Mr Wills. 'Most of our customers are elderly and they don't want to be pushed around and need the facility. 'We have a petition here and it will be delivered by our MP to parliament in the near future.'