Jeremy Hunt MP has formally presented a local Conservatives ‘Save our rural Post Offices’ petition to the House of Commons.The petition, organised by Witley and Hambledon Councillors Adam Taylor-Smith and Elizabeth Cable, was signed by well over 600 local people, indicating the strength of feeling surrounding the proposed closures of local Post Offices.Millions of people in the UK rely on Post Offices for vital services, yet more than 4,000 have closed since 1997. The strategy outlined by the Government is for a further 2,500 closures and the Government has failed to acknowledge the importance of the Post Office to those living in rural areas or the difficulties vulnerable groups have in accessing what is often the centre point of the community. Jeremy said: “The Government needs to understand the importance of the social role played by Post Offices in villages like the ones in Waverley. In rural areas, when the local post office closes, often the last shop in the village closes as well. The Government must take steps to give Post Offices a sustainable future, including giving sub-postmasters greater freedoms to run their business.“Hambledon village shop and Post Office is a wonderful example of just how integral such services are to a community like ours. It does a fantastic job in providing services and acts as a centre point of the village. I hope that the Government will take notice of the strong feeling in opposition to Post Office closures in South West Surrey and come up with a strategy that protects our vital rural services.""