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Health and safety killjoys tell war veterans they are too old to hoist the Union Flag over town hall
Last updated at 02:38am on 26.07.08
Up in arms: Veterans John Ireland (right) and Keith Hutchins in front of the town hall
In their younger days, they risked death and injury to fight for their country against the Nazis and other enemies.
But, now, war veterans who want to fly the Union Flag proudly above their town hall are being defeated by a barrage of health and safety rules.
Royal British Legion members had scented victory after fighting for months to hoist the flag permanently in Calne, Wiltshire.
The council suggested handing over the operation to the veterans - but then landed them with a 50-point list of rules banning anyone with a wide range of health conditions from going on the roof.
All the branch's 84 members are over 60 and suffer from a variety of ailments which would stop them going up a ladder to raise the flag.
The council report rules out anyone taking prescription medicines or with a history of heart problems, asthma, stroke, high or low blood pressure, epilepsy, fear of heights, depression, poor sight, mobility problems or diabetes.
Councillor John Ireland, 61, who is also branch chairman and served in the Army for 27 years, said: 'We have fought bravely and many of us risked our lives in a world war.
'We are perfectly capable of going up a ladder a few feet to put a flag up on a roof.
'All the council is trying to do is find excuses to stop flying the flag.
'They have been very sneaky. What they gave in one hand, they took away in the other, knowing full well none of us is fit enough to match those rules.'
The report adds that anyone raising the flag would have to undergo training courses in 'working at height' and 'manual handling'.
They would also have to be kitted out in safety footwear and weatherproof clothing.
The 25ft flagpole is on a section of flat roof accessed via a ladder through a skylight.
But the veterans cannot ask younger non-members to help as they have to be covered by the RBL's £10million insurance policy.
The 26ft flagpole is on a 30ft roof - but the war veterans insist it is no challenge
The dispute began last November when the 19-member council rejected Mr Ireland's proposal to fly the Union Flag permanently.
Opponents cited the £80 annual cost and said the flag would lose significance if flown every day.
But legion members claim the council is being politically-correct as it fears being labelled racist.
Mr Ireland believed the veterans had won when the council agreed to consider handing over the control and cost of the flagpole.
But days later, town hall clerk Linda Roberts produced the lengthy rules for councillors to consider before voting on the idea.
She suggests a 'less risky option', such as flying the flag from the side of the council building or from another building in the town.
Branch treasurer Margaret Russell added: 'The health and safety rules are just the latest hurdle the council has put in our way. It is our flag and we should be proud of it.'
Calne town council refused to comment yesterday.
Reader views (11)
If flying the flag from the flagpole is considered politically incorrect then this is even more reason why it should be done.
- Frank, England.
Typical gutless attitude from the council who "refuse to comment".Surprised there was not a Council spokesperson to justify their craven deceitful behaviour.
- P Robinson, koeln germany
It's not the Union Flag! It's the Union Jack! Let's get some pride back into GREAT Britain.
- Haskey, London SE1
Just excuses for the left to promote anti British sentiment while favouring minorities. Any council that refuses to fly the Union Jack should be named and shamed and ordered by parliament to fly it, end of story. Enough is enough with all these ultra left garbage, lets ban political correctness!
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7
84 War Veterans ought to organize for the next elections and get enough votes to vote every single one of them out of office.
- William Morirty, Ilford, UK
You will never beat the legions of Jobsworths that now run all aspects of life in NuLabour Britain.
- Ayliff A Mcnab, Orihuela Costa, Alicante, Spain
Silly old duffers, don't they realise they fought a war so these council wallys could protect them from the flag they fought for?
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
Ban all councils, they have shown their colours as little Hitlers hiding behind their 'ealth n safety' claptrap. Kick them out and lets organise the town councils ourselves like they do in places like Southwold, Suffolk where nobody is paid apart from the Town Clerk.
KICK THEM ALL OUT !!!!!
- Jane, Southwold, Suffolk
Local Councils in England seem to be run by Politically Correct Control Freaks who now doubt take their lead from our PM. I am very proud to be waving the Union Flag out here at the Olympics! I hope the good Old Boys in the Legion get their way in Caine.
Maybe Gordon Brown should consider getting a retirement villa out here soon after all he likes the place and would be at home with all the Control Freakery!
- Stephen, Beijing China
Perhaps the issue should be brought up - loudly - at the time of the next election for the parish council? They should be made to answer the questions about their insult to the British flag in refusing to fly it above their building, and insulting those who fought under that flag for their country. I wonder what mealy mouth garbage would be spouted then about health and safety being used to win a lost argument.
- Rogan, DFW TX
You pay these council members to do a job. They have to fill the hours with something. I guess writing stupid rules is the result. If they were trying hard to do a good job, they would have come up with 100 pages of rules.
- Ray, Gurnee, USA
