North Devon Lib Dems and Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for North Devon, have campaigned since 2016 for the MoD to make a decision to retain and expand RMB Chivenor. This week Senior Westminster sources have indicated to them that a decision will be made and announced in the near future.

Kirsten Johnson, the first female Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for North Devon, is to address the Barnstaple and Blackmoor Gate NFU Open AGM on Thursday, November 29^th. The meeting will be held at the Portmore Golf Club, Landkey. Kirsten is attending at the invitation of Barnstaple NFU Chairman, David Chugg.

Kirsten has already attended the NFU Harvest Festival in October and had a meeting with Liv Phoenix, NFU External Affairs Manager in September. Kirsten says, “I am delighted to have been invited to speak to the Barnstaple and Blackmoor Gate NFU in North Devon, where agriculture, food and farming are vital parts of our culture and economic prosperity. The future for farming is daunting – with Defra’s own statistics showing that up to 25% of farms will be forced to shut down as a result of increased tariffs and the removal of CAP subsidies. I welcome this opportunity to continue to meet some of our farmers and agri-employers, in my role as the N Devon Lib Dem PPC: working hard on issues that really matter to North Devon”.

The motion put to full North Devon District Council to save Appledore Shipyard and Royal Marine Base (RMB) Chivenor, by Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr David Worden, was passed unanimously on Thursday, November 21^st.

Cllr Worden says, “I am glad that politicians from across the political divide, were able to unite to support my call to save Appledore Shipyard and RMB Chivenor. Both are vital sources of employment in Northern Devon and the closure of both would be a hammer blow to the area”.

Read the full motion here.

Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem PPC for North Devon is backing The Gazette’s urgent appeal to raise vital funds for Age Concern in Barnstaple.

Kirsten Johnson says, “Age Concern, Barnstaple is a lifeline for the elderly and isolated in our community. They do invaluable work with over 200 people in the area. I strongly urge as many people and businesses to contribute to the £25,000 that is urgently needed.”

Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem PPC for North Devon, joined a crowd of hundreds to see the Christmas lights being turned on in South Molton on Friday, November 16^th.

Kirsten says, “This was a great community event, with a joyful and festive atmosphere. I congratulate South Molton Town Council on putting on such a fantastic display for the town. No doubt the many people who come to shop in South Molton over the Christmas period will enjoy these lovely lights and spend a lot of money in the various delightful shops in the town”.

Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem PPC for North Devon, has become Chair of a national charity, The Fragile X Society.

Fragile X Syndrome is the most common known inherited cause of learning disabilities, affecting around 1 in 4000 males and 1 in 8000 females. It can cause a wide range of difficulties with learning, as well as social, language, attentional, emotional, behavioural and medical problems. In addition, approximately 1 in 250 females and 1 in 600 males are carriers of the Fragile X pre-mutation. Some carriers may develop symptoms of one of the two Fragile X-associated Disorders. Therefore, Fragile X consists of a family of three genetic conditions.  

Kirsten Johnson, North Devon Lib Dem PPC visited Bratton Fleming at the invitation of Bratton Fleming Community Benefit Society Ltd, on Thursday, 8^th of November. The meeting was well attended and took place in St Peter’s Church.

Chair of the Bratton Fleming Community Benefit Society (BFCBS), Trevor Hilton, says, "We are pleased to have Kirsten's support in our fight to save The White Hart for our local community in Bratton Fleming."

Kirsten adds "I very much support The White Hart remaining an Asset of Community Value. Local residents have fought hard to stop housing development of this pub, and North Devon Council have refused several applications. I hope this beautiful building can either be re-opened as a pub or a community hub in the near future. Building communities and providing proper facilities combats rural isolation and keeps our local economy strong. I hope North Devon can rally around and support those in Bratton Fleming striving to keep this pub as part of the community. I also sincerely hope that the owner of the White Hart will desist from his current endeavours to keep the pub closed, which so many residents of Bratton Fleming find very disappointing. I share their sentiments”.

Marguerite Shapland, a veteran Lib Dem campaigner in Braunton, has won an overwhelming victory in yesterdays by-election for the Parish Council there.

The Lib Dems polled 386 votes, more than double the Labour vote and over four times the Green vote – winning 61% of the vote.

North Devon District Councillors, Caroline Leaver and Joy Cann, are to call for continued support from North Devon district (NDC) for the North Devon Citizens Advice Bureau, CAB at the Full Meeting of NDC on November 21^st.

Their motion, below, highlights the difficulties people in N Devon are experiencing with the roll out of Universal Credit.

“In the light of the recent report from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for North Devon into its work over the last six months, this Council re-affirms its support for the CAB and commits to on-going financial support for its work with the most vulnerable in North Devon’s communities, and in particular during the early years of the introduction of Universal Credit in North Devon.”

Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon has continued her tour of schools in N Devon, as part of her campaign to end school cuts.

Kirsten says,

“The energy, commitment and dedication of the staff and pupils at Ilfracombe Academy were truly impressive. They are also enjoying the benefits of new buildings and facilities provided by the Coalition administration. Sadly, they are being undermined by the savage cuts to school budgets being administered by this Conservative Government and Conservative Devon County Council. Unlike the current Conservative MP for North Devon, when elected I will do everything in my power to put an end to these short sighted and damaging cuts”