‘Letters to Heaven’ postbox will not be replaced in Derg

A COUNCIL-backed ‘Letters to Heaven’ postbox will not be reinstated at Castlederg Cemetery, due to concerns that it was ‘insensitive’ to families with loved ones buried there.

Derry City and Strabane councillors unanimously accepted a recommendation not to reinstate the postbox.

It followed an earlier endorsement by the elected representatives to install four special postboxes in Derry City and Strabane council-operated cemeteries, including Castlederg.

According to the council, the letterboxes would allow mourners to remember their loved ones in a special way by posting letters to a person buried in the cemeteries.

But, at a meeting of the council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee, head of environment, Connor Canning, said the box had been removed at Castlederg and a public consultation had taken place late last year.

Mr Canning said that, while the initial public feedback was positive, council then received representation seeking the removal of the box at Castlederg Cemetery.

The official said that those opposing the initiative stated it was both ‘insensitive’ and against the wishes of the majority of families with loved ones buried there.

He added, “In consideration of this members resolved that a public consultation exercise be undertaken within the Castlederg area to ensure that the views of local residents were fully considered as part of this process.”

An online consultation yielded 133 responses from members of the public, with the majority opposed both to the concept and specifically to locating a box within the Tyrone cemetery.

Mr Canning said that, while there were a broad mix of replies, respondents did not support the scheme and felt the funding could have been better spent, with a minority of replies supportive of the proposal.

Castlederg councillor Keith Kerrigan said that, when the postbox was originally erected, there had been a somewhat negative reaction from members of the public and clergy.

He said, “This whole idea came through a motion from the council which they brought forward without public consultation in the first place.

“When it was first erected, that was when the confusion started.

“Having heard the concerns regarding the postbox from the people of this area, I raised the issue at a council meeting and requested that, due to strong opposition, it should be removed until a public consultation took place.

“Following this, a consultation has taken place and the results verify and support the reason for its removal.

“The vast majority in the area said they didn’t want it, and as councillor for the Castlederg area it was my duty to listen and deliver.”