Latest on flags campaign in Angus

Dave Coull · Latest on flags campaign in Angus

Although I support the "Save Our Saltire" campaign, I played no part in starting it or naming it. Okay, so it might not be the most imaginative name for a campaign. But it does describe, in three words, the purpose of this local campaign : to prevent the Saltire from being pulled down here in Angus.

New campaigns do not appear on a whim. Campaigns only appear when enough people think that there is a need for them. This particular local campaign appeared because of the arrogant actions of some of the councillors who took over control of Angus Council in May. Although there had been no mention, in the manifesto of any political party, or in the manifestos of any individual candidates for the Council, of pulling down the Saltire, it turned out that was exactly what some of them planned to do, to "replace" it with a so-called "Angus flag".

The councillors who are supposedly my own representatives on the Council - Council Leader Bob Myles and Provost Ruth Leslie Melville - have proved particularly arrogant with regard to this matter. But they have received a tremendous shock at the strength of popular opposition to their plans. They have been forced into stating that they now want the Angus flags to fly "alongside" the Saltires. There are a couple of problems with that: (1) the massive cost of new flagpoles for this purpose, and (2) the suggestion from one of their own Alliance group of councillors that the Alliance councillors should pay for the Angus flags out of their own pockets.

The latest body to tell the councillors to "think again" is Montrose Community Council. The "compromise" suggestion from Montrose is that they dispense with new flagpoles altogether, that they have the Saltire flying on the existing flagpoles, and put the new Angus flags inside the council buildings, where they can just be stuck on a wall with drawing pins, thus saving the cost of new flagpoles.

On Saint Andrews Day, a restaurant in Arbroath hit on a humorous way to advertise themselves and at the same time have a "go" at the sheer silliness of the Council's proposed "Angus Flag". They came up with a proposed "Angus Flag" of their own, quartered in the same way as the Council's version, and with similar colours, but with the four quarters representing foods produced in Angus: an Arbroath smokie, a Forfar bridie, raspberries and strawberries......Their ingenuity was rewarded with some free publicity, a large colour photo in the "Courier" of a table in the restaurant adorned with these flags, and three smiling customers.

If we were actually allowed a democratic choice on an "Angus Flag", I would vote for that restaurant's version in preference to the heraldic pretentiousness supported by Bob Myles and Ruth Leslie Melville. In the meantime, the Saltires are still up on the flagpoles, and the council leaders are still up the creek without a paddle.

Dave Coull

from the "Montrose Review", 6th December

SUGGESTION TO HANG NEW FLAG INDOORS

Montrose Community Council have said that Angus Council should abandon plans to erect additional flagpoles to accomodate the new county flag and instead erect them indoors.

Chairperson Joan Stott said that the plan had already attracted too much negative attention from the public and said the council should cut their losses and reach a compromise.

Mrs Stott said that, instead of erecting a second flagpole for the controversial flag, Angus Council should put them up inside council buildings - saving money on erecting new poles, giving the council their new flag and keeping the public happy.

The proposal didn't get the approval of Angus Alliance members Mark Salmond and David May, but Councillor May did promise to put it forward to the administration.

Mrs Stott said "The majority of people don't want it, so how about a compromise? Can I suggest that we take them inside, and hang them inside different buildings? That way, Angus Council still has its flag and it would keep everybody happy. Is there some way we can take that forward?

Mr May said "I'll raise it elsewhere - that's all I can do".

Meanwhile, the Community Council asked Mr May why local firms weren't asked to submit a tender for the manufacturing of the new Angus flag.

The contract to supply the Angus flag was awarded to Glasgow-based James Stevenson (Flags) Ltd, which Council Leader Bob Myles said was identified according to the council's "best value" scheme.

But community councillors claimed that a Kirriemuir firm - which is a 10 minute drive from the council's headquarters in Forfar - weren't invited to submit a tender.

Treasurer Gavin Dunbar said he had talked to the firm in question, who said that, had they been asked to tender, they probably would have been able to beat the quote of £450 per flag accepted by the council.

Mr May said that the council's chief executive, David Sawers, put out the tender to the terms of best value and he would be the person in the best position to answer that question, but he could not answer it himself.