A MAN at the front line of the campaign to save Newport passport office says the support shown in our petition is giving workers hope it can be saved.

This week we handed our 24,000-name petition into 10 Downing Street, taking our message against the planned closure to the corridors of power and direct to the door of prime minister David Cameron.

Security guard Lyndon Corten is one of the many people who have made our campaign possible, collecting names from anybody who passes his desk at Olympia House.

He says employees can’t thank the Argus campaign enough: “At the end of the day we have to fight. There’s no point giving up. The Argus’ support and people signing the petition has got to give them some hope.”

“It just shows the feeling in the whole of Wales and elsewhere that it is a disgraceful decision they have proposed. Why us again in Wales?”

Ben Rapier, representative for the workers’ Public and Commercial Services union, said 24,000 signatures is “phenomenal”.

“A petition with that number of signatures has to break some kind of record for Newport and surely the government has to sit up and take notice,” he said.

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Nick Bourne AM, who signed our petition together with many other AMs, said it was “no surprise” the petition has gained the support it has.

“Welsh Conservatives have made it clear we oppose the closure of Newport Passport Office and we continue to work closely with the Secretary of State for Wales on this issue.”

Petition signatory and Newport East AM John Griffiths said: “The Argus petition must be a wake up call to the Government in Westminster.”

His Newport West counterpart Rosemary Butler AM said: “If, as a result, the Westminster government decides to keep the main Passport Office in Newport open it’ll be a great boost to the campaign to revive the city centre.”

South East Wales AM for Plaid Cymru Jocelyn Davies said: “The many thousands of people who have signed the petition to save the Passport Office is a reflection of how strongly local people feel.”

You can still add your voice to campaign

YOU still have the chance to register your disapproval with the plan as our petition remains open. Any outstanding forms can be sent to South Wales Argus Cardiff Road, Maesglas, Newport, NP20 3QN, and we will get them to Downing Street.

You can also sign our petition online at southwalesargus.co.uk/passportoffice