Children at a primary school have got behind the campaign to keep the central post office open.

The youngsters at St Alban’s Catholic Primary School showed their support for the battle against the plan to close the dedicated Crown branch on Castle Street in Macclesfield, which will see WHSmith operate post office counters as a franchise from the shop on Mill Street instead.

The proposal sparked outrage among residents who fear the WHSmith shop will not be able to accommodate customers.

Now the Year One children at St Alban’s have joined the campaign after staff at the Castle Street branch helped them with a school project.

The branch gave teacher Amy Meachin supplies including envelopes, mail sacks and leaflets for the project, based around The Jolly Christmas Postman book which the children were studying.

This included taking part in a role play set in a post office created in the classroom, with classmates serving from a counter, working on a till and collecting post.

The children wrote to the branch to thank staff for their help, then created Save our Post Office posters in support of the campaign to keep the branch open.

Miss Meachin said: “The resources provided by the post office really helped bring the project to life.

“The children wrote and received their own letters and organised the delivery of parcels through our own post office. We even had a visit from a former postman.

“It’s so important the children have gained an understanding of what a post office does and the value of sending and receiving letters, especially when there is an increased focus on communication through technology and so many post office closures.

“The post office is always busy and a pivotal part of the community which should be saved. WHSmith wouldn’t have the same community feel.”

Amy Meachin, Year 1 teacher.
 

Post Office bosses are analysing feedback from a consultation.

Sally Buchanan, project manager, said: “We are carefully considering all the feedback to ensure we make the right decision.

“We expect a decision by early February, though this may take longer depending on the issues and other circumstances around the service.

“We appreciate how important Post Office services are and believe we will continue to play a vital role in activity in Macclesfield should the move go ahead.”

The proposed relocation will go ahead in March if approved.