Tweed flags plea ‘If you erect it .. RESPECT it’

A LOCAL councillor has called on those who erect Union flags in the borough to respect them and not let them fall into disrepair.

At last Monday night’s meeting of council, Councillor Davy Tweed thought that the Diamond Jubilee year is the perfect time to raise the issue of flags being left in tatters.

He said: “With the Diamond Jubilee this year, I think now is the time we address the issue of flags being left in tatters around the borough.

“Every village go into has flags flying that are in tatters. I think it is dispicable that they are allowed to go into disrepair. With the Jubilee and the torch run taking place, this issue needs to be addressed. I recently hosted Scottish visitors who commented about the state of the flags and I had to inform them that this is the same throughout the borough.

“I am asking that this council can write to local community associations and ask to have any ruined flags removed.

“If you erect it, you should respect it and now is the time to get this sorted. Even the flag on the town hall is going into disrepair. I also think we should write to other councils and request they do the same as this is a province wide problem.”

The Mayor of Ballymena, Councillor Hubert Nicholl said that he agreed with Councillor Tweed’s suggestion ‘100%’.

Councillor John Carson also backed Tweed’s suggestion, he said: “ I can confirm what Councillor Tweed has said. In the past we had trouble regards to flags and I was able to negotiate with the people in the area. We agreed a set date for erecting the flags and for taking them down. I hate to see a flag in tatters, especially the Union flag.

Councillor Tweed added: “Ballymena leads from the front and this is a province wide problem, we should have an influence.”

It was agreed that the council will write to local community associations and neighbouring councils to raise the issue. Councillor Roy Gillespie called on Ballymena house holders to fly the Union flag from their homes in honour of the Jubilee, he said: “Homeowners should fly the Union flag proudly, there are too many tricolours on show.”