Stephen Smith, councillor, Townstal ward, and chairman of the Townstal Community Partnership, writes:

Like any bad news, you are always sympathetic to those involved, but when it’s on your own doorstep it’s received as a bombshell. Such was the case with the closure of Eltek Semiconductors, which has employed many during its 30 years or more in trading – my wife included – in a very ­competitive market, and even after many recessions it came out as a survivor.

This closure underlines the concerns that much-needed local employment is lost forever at a time when we are trying to encourage more ­business investment into this community, which is surviving on the tourist industry.

Many have found employment in a similar ­working environment, but many have not, so perhaps we need to be looking at the longer term – when there is a takeover, it’s not always in the interest of the local community for job retention.