Unionists rage at decision to uphold closure of Moygashel polling station in Dungannon

UUP MLA Tom Elliott, the agreed unionist Westminster candidate for the Fermanagh and south Tyrone seat said he had no confidence “whatsoever regarding how this decision was taken”.

“Not only has Northern Ireland’s Chief Electoral Officer failed to provide an explanation for his decision, the matter had been mishandled from the very start.

“The UK’s overarching Electoral Commission was unequivocal last month when it found the original EONI decision did not meet the requirements of the electors in Moygashel district.

“Nevertheless it is a testament to the importance of the station to the community in Moygashel that approximately 1,300 responses were received to the consultation. Of these approximately 1,050 opposed changing the polling station from the Howard Memorial Primary School to Dungannon Leisure Centre. The reasons for this included concerns that elderly and disabled voters would have difficulty travelling to and accessing the polling station. Yet the decision to proceed with the original proposal demonstrates that the latest consultation was solely for show and was totally worthless.

“Shame on the Chief Electoral Officer for treating the electorate in Moygashel with such disregard.”

The DUP’s Lord Morrow said: ““I am totally appalled and disappointed by the decision of the Chief Electoral Office in relation to removing Moygashel Polling station from Howard Primary school in Dungannon.

“This decision flies in the face of the evidence and will potentially disenfranchise voters in that locality.”