Liberal Democrats call for Government to step in and commit money to save Appledore Shipyard

David Chalmers, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Torridge and West Devon who lives in Appledore renews calls for Government to step in and commit money to save Appledore Shipyard. Meeting voters in Appledore David said:

"The historic Appledore Shipyard closed in March of this year with the loss of 200 jobs and a hit to our local economy of over £1 million. Appledore Shipyard is vital to the future prosperity of our region here in Northern Devon and North Cornwall and no more so than here in Torridge.

Shipbuilding is part of our local heritage. We have been building ships here on the Torridge, for hundreds of years. Ships that sailed against the Armada were built here.

I live in Appledore and I know how important the shipyard was and should be to our local community. Appledore Shipyard stood out as a beacon of hope, in a region that is too dependent on low paid, low skilled jobs.

The Local Enterprise Partnership which represents businesses across Devon and Somerset sent their Local Industrial Strategy document for our region to the Conservative Government in August of this year - and they haven't even received a reply. That is what Johnson's Conservatives think of the South West.

As I stated over a year ago if the Lib Dems were in charge we would work positively with unions and shipyard owners to have found a solution to ensure the shipyard's continued operation. We value sustainable communities with better paid higher-skilled jobs that support families and the wider community and offer better opportunities for our young people.

The Conservative Government which has included our own local MP has sat on its hands for 8 months. We need a Government that will take the strategic decision to step in with the funds and keep the Shipyard open. It is too important for our local community to lose.

I would like to call on all my fellow candidates standing here in Torridge and West Devon to make that pledge that we shall all do all that we can to reopen Appledore Shipyard.

We need an MP who will stand up for our region and make the people living and working here his or her top priority. Liberal Democrats and I demand better. We demand that Appledore Shipyard stays open."