Leader units out “common-sense and pragmatic” strategy on flags and Christmas lights

from sure lamp posts in order that Christmas lights might be safely put in.

Cllr Finch mentioned:

“I’m immensely pleased with our nationwide flags. The Union Flag and the Cross of St George are symbols of our shared values and legacy. Like many, I’ve been delighted to see residents throughout Warwickshire flying them in our city and village centres.

 

“However, as we head into the Christmas interval, native councils are actually placing up their Christmas lights. In a lot of locations, contractors have suggested that they won’t set up lights on lampposts which have already got flags fastened to them. They have raised clear well being and issues of safety that we merely can’t ignore, these included however will not be restricted to the difficulty of flags wrapping round lamp columns in moist and windy situations and doubtlessly coming into contact with lights, creating a hearth threat.”

Contractors have flagged a sequence of particular dangers in areas the place flags and lights would occupy the identical columns, together with:

Flags wrapping round lamp columns in moist and windy situations and doubtlessly coming into contact with lights, creating a hearth threat. Ladders not with the ability to sit securely in opposition to lamp columns due to the flags and fixings.

Flags blowing unpredictably within the wind whereas operatives are working at peak.

It is unsafe and impractical to attempt to wrap or tie flags round lampposts with the intention to match lights.

Cllr Finch continued:

“Once these issues have been put to me, the selection was stark: I both refused permission to take away flags and accepted that Christmas lights wouldn’t go up in sure streets this yr, or give permission to councils to take down flags in these particular places in order that lights might be put in safely.

 

“I’ve chosen the pragmatic possibility. I cannot deprive our cities and villages of their Christmas lights, that are key drivers of native delight and are very important for the small companies that depend on elevated footfall throughout the Christmas procuring season.”

Under the choice:

Flags will solely be taken down the place Christmas lights are being put in. In streets or areas the place no lights are deliberate, flags will stay in place.

This is a short lived, seasonal measure. Cllr Finch and his Cabinet are actively encouraging residents to place flags again up within the New Year, as soon as Christmas lights have come down.

Flags shouldn’t be destroyed. Cllr Finch has instructed council officers and companions that eliminated flags should not be thrown away wherever moderately potential. Instead, efforts can be made to get them into the fingers of native councillors so residents can gather them within the New Year.

Cllr Finch added:

“This was all the time a second that was all the time going to come back. No one might realistically have anticipated the flags, uncovered to the weather on busy streets, to stay in good situation eternally. In 5 or ten years’ time, a lot of them can be light, torn and hanging in a sorry state. That isn’t how we should always deal with the flags of our nation.

 

“What I’m proposing is a smart sample and resolution. During the winter and Christmas interval, when the climate is at its worst and the lights must go up, flags come down in these explicit places. Then, within the New Year, residents are inspired to place their flags again up — recent, tidy and in good situation. That means, we honour our flags correctly, moderately than leaving them to rot.”