Yet another twist in flag saga (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Yet another twist in flag saga

1:26pm Thursday 24th July 2008

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Campaigners who thought they had won their eight-month battle to see the union flag flown from Calne Town Hall have been faced with a new obstacle.

Councillors agreed on July 7 to hand over control to members of the Royal British Legion subject to town clerk Linda Roberts investigating health and safety implications.

Mrs Roberts has now released her report, which has been slammed by members of the RBL.

In the report Mrs Roberts writes: "The physical and psychological well-being of anyone seeking permission to gain access to the roof should be considered.

"Anyone with the following conditions should be excludedheart problems, asthma, stroke, high or low blood pressure, fear of heights, depression."

The report rules out RBL members signing a waiver, claiming these "are not considered worth the paper they are written on."

She suggests an alternative, asking: "Is it necessary for the flag to be flown from the town hall roof?

The report continues: "For example a flagpole located elsewhere in the town, or affixed to the side of the building, similar to those at the Lansdowne Strand Hotel (would the Lansdowne Strand Hotel consider permitted (sic) the Legion to use one of their flagpoles -it is believe (sic) the owner is an Ex-Army person."

Campaigner Paul Mayo said: "It's as if the council originally suggested this just to shut us up. The report is ridiculous and flying the flag from the Lansdowne is not what we set out to do."

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