Stand up and be counted
News from dromoreleader.co.uk - call Paul Wilkinson with your stories from the Dromore area on 406 62745
DROMORE residents will soon have the chance, at two face-to-face meetings with the PSNI later this month, to hammer home their opposition to the planned closure of the town’s police station.
Recently announced, the public meetings will take place in Dromore on February 15, at a location to be confirmed following the next CPLC meeting, and Banbridge’s Belmont Hotel in two weeks.
PSNI Area Commander, Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney, alerted elected representatives to the meetings, the first substantial signs of the public consultation process authorised by the Policing Board in recent weeks.
Among those to receive word was the DUP’s Councillor Paul Rankin, who swiftly urged the Dromore community to effectively stand up and be counted by seizing the opportunity to demonstrate their support for the anti-closure campaign.
The meetings, he said, are one aspect of the wider public consultation now underway and he appealed to Dromore residents to take every opportunity to air their views.
“I would encourage everyone with an interest in saving Dromore Police Station, or with an influence on policing, to participate in the public consultation in the coming weeks,” he said.
“Mr. Ken Mawhinney, Chief Inspector and Area Commander, has written to myself and other public representatives. I hope that as many people from the Dromore area as possible will attend and make their voices and opinions heard.”
Warning against apathy, Mr. Rankin said it was vital that the community make the most of the offered opportunity to demonstrate the groundswell of public opinion in favour of retaining the police station.
“I would again stress the importance of the people of Dromore making their voices and opinions heard,” he said. “If people sit back and don’t participate then they aren’t entitled to complain if a decision is made to close our police station.”
Also now available for members of the public to distribute among friends and neighbours are consultation sheets which should be completed and returned to Banbridge PSNI, 14 Castlewellan Rd, Banbridge.
Sheets can be collected from MLA Brenda Hale’s Church Street constituency office, one of a number of places - including Ulster Unionist MLA Basil McCrea’s Market Square office and local business premises - where the public can also sign the petition protesting the closure plan.
“The petition has recieved hundreds of signatures,” said Mr. Rankin, “and people can still call in to sign their name.”
Meanwhile, locals are also being encouraged to sign a second petition - opposing the planned closure of nearby Hillsborough police station - also available in Mrs Hale’s office.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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