Mystery campaigners fly the flag for Catalonia
THE PEOPLE responsible have yet to come forward, but folk around upper Loch Fyne woke up to a colourful surprise on Saturday April 14.
The distinctive flag of the Catalonia region of Spain was draped across the Inveraray-bound bus shelter on the A83 at Cairndow, with an identical flag tied between road signs on a traffic island on Inveraray’s main street.
Yellow ribbons, symbolising the campaign for Catalan independence, also adorned street furniture around town.
A message left beside the flags read: ‘These yellow ribbons show our support for Catalan political prisoners, held in jail by the authoritarian Spanish government with the charge of rebellion.’
The message continued: ‘We will remove these ribbons ourselves and no litter will be left behind.’
A Cairndow resident told the Advertiser: ‘I am led to believe these ribbons were put up during the early hours of Saturday morning. This had all been done as far as I know with no consultation with residents in the village or the community council. While we may sympathise with what has gone on in Catalonia, I am annoyed to wake up to this in our village.’
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: ‘Anyone wishing to fly flags from coun- cil property should contact the council for permission in advance. We were not aware of the bus shelter being used for this purpose.’
Police Sergeant Iain MacNicol said officers were not aware of the flags being put up, adding: ‘I am not aware of any permissions being asked of the police and none would be given.
‘I would be concerned they could be a distraction to motorists and, if so, they will be removed.’
A glass panel on the Cairndow bus shelter draped with the flag was smashed recently, but it is not clear if the two events are connected.