This included Belmont Post Office, which is a two-minute walk from Strathearn’s school gates.

Some girls in 2T who lived in the area became aware of the proposed closure, and felt that awareness of this important local issue should be raised within school. Working with Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Stevenson, they designed a questionnaire to investigate the reasons why people use their local Post Office and to document customer’s views on the planned closure of Belmont branch.

Their findings were presented at a special Junior school Tutorial class for all of Form 2 and 3, with a PowerPoint highlighting the issues involved. Mr. Tommy Dunlop, who works in Belmont branch also spoke about the reasons for keeping our local Post Office open.

As a result, a letter writing campaign was launched in school, to encourage parents and pupils at Strathearn participate in the consultation process organised by Post Office Limited. A leaflet was circulated to every pupil in school, and special Post boxes in the school House colours were set up in the foyer, along with a campaign information board. 

 As the period of consultation drew to a close, 2T counted the letters and delivered them to our local branch at Belmont. The staff really appreciated this show of support from local young people, and the girls were even interviewed for the Community Telegraph.

School received a letter from the team at Post office HQ who were processing all letters received from the public on the proposed Post Office closures. It included high praise for the letters sent from school:

“I am extremely impressed with not only the high standard of letter writing and beautiful presentation, but also with the amount of thought that each pupil has given to what the local Post Office branch means to them and the wider community.”  (Caroline Miranda: Agency Correspondence team)

In June, Post Office Limited made its final announcement about closures of Post Offices in Northern Ireland. Despite huge efforts by many groups and individuals in the Belmont area, the proposed closure of Belmont Branch will proceed in July 2008. 4,500 letters from throughout Northern Ireland were sent to Post Office Limited in their consultation, we can be proud that over 300 came from pupils and family of Strathearn!