‘Excuses over Union Flag failure not good enough’

I READ with great interest the report on Thursday regarding the failure of Inverclyde Council to obtemper its own policy in regard to the flying of Union Flag.

The policy passed by the local authority in September is not so much new as a restatement of existing practice. Policy stipulates that the Union Flag be flown on November 11 and it was not.

We are offered the excuse that the wind was blowing and they could not do it.

I did not really notice the weather that Friday but note that there were no ferry cancellations due to adverse wind conditions.

There has been many a wet windy day in November in Inverclyde but never before has the flag failed to be flown for this reason. After representations were made by myself and others to Councillor Martin McCluskey on Sunday afternoon/evening, Mr McCluskey acted as a Labour councillor should and made urgent representations.

This resulted in the obtempering of the policy to allow the Union Flag to be flown on Monday 14th which was another designated day for flying the flag.

The weather on Monday was atrocious but the standard was nevertheless flown splendidly.

On Tuesday the weather was simply vile but the standard was successfully lowered and replaced with the saltire.

All of which casts doubt on the integrity of the pathetic little tale relating to Friday.

Therefore in the first instance a metrological report is required.

What does not need a metrological report is the weather on Sunday, Remembrance Sunday. It was like a glorious spring day. This day is designated as a day in its own rite for the flying of the Union Flag, yet it was not flown.

The excuse about the wind most certainly cannot apply.

There were very many people around in Gourock on Sunday afternoon. The attendance at memorial service, pictured, was as good as I have ever known.

I surely am not the only one who was disappointed that the Union Flag did not fly?

GRAHAM WINTERS, Address supplied