County Tyrone Primary School Reinstated As A Polling Station

A primary school in County Tyrone has been reinstated as a polling station after the Ulster Unionists appealed the initial decision for it to close.

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott welcomed the decision of the Electoral Commission to direct the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland to reinstate Howard Primary School, Moygashel as a polling station.

Mr Elliott MLA said: "Following the initial decision to close the polling station at Moygashel I lodged an appeal on the grounds that the Electoral Office had failed to adequately consult on the issue, which affected nearly 3,000 voters in Moygashel and Coolhill wards. An audit subsequently carried out at the proposed alternative venue at the Dungannon Leisure centre proved that it was not a suitable site for those with limited mobility. With the support of 30 signatories and the access audit, an appeal was lodged with Electoral Commission and it has now responded by stating the initial review by the Electoral Office was 'not conducted in such a way to meet electors reasonable requirements, we therefore direct you to reinstate Howard Primary School as the polling station for the voters who were allocated to Dungannon Leisure Centre and Roan Primary School'.

"I welcome the acknowledgement that this decision was flawed. The finding of the UK’s Electoral Commission is unequivocal – the decision did not meet the requirements of the electors in Moygashel district. The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland made the initial decision without ever consulting them, instead opting to seemingly listen only to the demands of Sinn Fein."

(CD/MH)