‘Dromore disadvantaged by Banbridge venue’
News from dromoreleader.co.uk - call Paul Wilkinson with your stories from the Dromore area on 406 62745
THE people of Dromore are being disadvantaged by the decision to hold this month’s public meeting about the town’s Police Station in Banbridge.
That’s according to local politicians, at least one of whom believes the move may give rise to fears that a final decision to close station has already been made.
The meeting is to take place at 7.15pm on Wednesday, February 29, in Banbridge’s Belmont Hotel, and among those to separately question the venue this week were Dromore Councillors Paul Rankin and Olive Mercer and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea.
The DUP’s Councillor Rankin said, “The decision to hold this important meeting in Banbridge puts many people in Dromore at a disadvantage; there are disabled and elderly folk, plus others without their own means of transport, who will find it difficult to travel up to Banbridge. I find the decision not to hold this meeting in Dromore strange, to say the least, as the future of Dromore Police Station will be the main topic.
“There are public meetings organised in Hillsborough and Dunmurry in March to discuss the future of the Hillsborough/Dunmurry Police Stations. Why is Dromore being treated differently?
“The decision to locate the public meeting away from Dromore will only give rise to suspicions that the decision regarding the future of our local Police Station has already been made.”
Meanwhile, “disappointed” Ulster Unionists called for a Dromore venue.
“People from Dromore should have an input into the fate of their police station,” said Mr. McCrea. “It is frustrating that a suitable venue in Dromore cannot be found.
“It is important for as many people as possible to participate in the consultation. This will not happen if people are forced to travel to Banbridge to engage in this process. If a suitable venue in Dromore could be identified it would mean wider participation and a better response to the consultation.”
Councillor Mercer added, “This is a disappointing outcome for the people of Dromore. However, we have not lost our police station and we can all have an input into this decision.
“Please make a commitment to sign one of the petitions to keep the station open, or visit the UUP office in the town to make a response to the consultation.”
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