Health and safety fears put paid to flag flying
Aberdeenshire councillors took the extraordinary step last week of voting to keep the North-east's flagpoles empty during the year of Scotland's Homecoming 2009.
Liberal and Conservative councillors joined forces to vote down a proposal from Ellon and District SNP councillor Rob Merson that the council adopt the flag-flying policy as agreed by the former Lib/Lab Scottish Executive.
Councillor Merson argued that with St Andrew's Day just three days away and 2009 being the year of the Homecoming that there was no better time to start flying the Saltire as a way of saying 'welcome' to the visitors which it is hoped will be attracted to the North-east next year.
Conservative member Bruce Luffman proposed that no action be taken citing health and safety reasons and was backed by 36 votes to 24.
Commenting, Cllr Merson said: "I am absolutely astounded by this. Having put forward the exact same policy that the Liberals introduced for the Scottish Executive in 2005, I really thought that this would be approved by the Administration.
"With the 2009 Year of the Homecoming almost upon us, when so many agencies are trying to attract visitors to Scotland next year in these difficult financial times, one of the key symbols of Scottish identity has been banished from our flagpoles.
"Instead of the traditional welcome of putting the flags out for our visitors, it is disappointing that the Tories and Liberals have made it a political issue.
"It is deeply disappointing, and something that the people of Aberdeenshire will remember whenever they see an empty flagpole."
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Friday 18 May 2012
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