Row
escalating as European flag flies again
Northern
Echo
Friday, December 16, 2005
A bitter political row reached boiling point last night as a local authority
defiantly flew the European Union flag outside its headquarters despite stiff
criticism from anti-Euro campaigners.
The EU Ring of Stars was flying in front of Wear Valley District Council offices
in Crook, County Durham yesterday after councillors voted to reinstate it as
soon as possible.
It is another twist in a row which started in September when the authority was
forced to remove the flag by campaigners who revealed it did not have planning
permission.
Since then, the council has applied for and, granted itself permission and, at a
full council meeting on Wednesday, decided to reinstate the symbol, despite
claims by The People's No Campaign that council officers assured them that it
would only be flown on one day a year - Europe Day on May 9.
Neil Herron, from the No Campaign, said: "This is absolutely staggering
arrogance by a local authority to continue to promote the EU project using
ratepayers money.
"They haven't taken the advice of council officers. They have been told
they cannot use taxpayers' money to promote this political project.
"To pass a motion to take down their own flag and replace it with that of
the EU beggars belief."
Deputy leader of the council Councillor Charlie Kay said the flag was being
flown to celebrate the election of fellow district councillor Chris Foote Wood
on to the European Union's Committee
of the Regions.
He will join former council leader Olive Brown, who is already on the committee.
Coun Kay said: "It is a fantastic honour for Wear Valley District Council,
which is a small authority, to have two representatives on this committee.
"There was a lot of strong feeling at the meeting. Britain is a member of
the European Union and it is our right to fly the flag".
He said that he did not know how long the flag would be flown alongside the
Union flag and the Cross of St George but it would probably be there for the
foreseeable future.