Western Morning News (Saturday)
Flag could fly for good at summit of towering tip
ST Piran’s Flag, the emblem of Cornwall, could be permanently flown at the top of Cornwall’s towering china clay tip at St Austell.
The flag could be stationed at the summit of Great Treverbyn Tip after landowners Imerys Minerals agreed to look into the feasibility of an official flag pole being erected without members of the community having to trespass and put themselves at risk to erect their own.
The flag of Cornwall has flown there on many occasions, often attached to a makeshift flag pole and erected under the cover of darkness – as going to the top of the ‘Sky Tip’ is considered trespassing.
Time and time again it has been taken down.
A petition has now been launched asking for Cornwall Council to add its support for the official pole and flag to be erected on what is often referred to as ‘The Pyramid’ or the ‘Cornish Alps’, the idea being that it can be seen by all as they drive up or down the A30.
The Great Treverbyn Tip is made from dumped china clay and was first created in the 1930s.
Liam Smith started the petition on the Change.org site and already it has gathered more than 1,000 signatures. He said: “This local landmark of the St Austell Bay area and local clay villages acts as a symbol of our great heritage and history in providing China Clay to the world, and has become part of our identity in Cornwall, even having calls to be considered a UNESCO heritage site.
“Our national flag of St Piran provides a true sense of nationality and highlights the impact the Cornish people have had on the world’s stage, through mining, fishing, tourism, food, culture and history. Having our national flag fly tall on the highest landmark in the area, seen for miles around by land and sea, not only reinforces this, but also acts as a beacon for all who pass it.”
Imerys has agreed to look into the feasibility of having a proper flag pole erected. A spokesman said: “We are aware of the debate locally about the Cornish flag on Sky Tip and we understand the sentiments of those who like to see it flying on top of what is clearly an iconic landmark in Mid Cornwall. We have no objection to the flag itself, but to the dangers of any member of the public placing it on the Sky Tip.”
He added: “After careful consideration we have decided to look at the conditions and constraints under which we may be able to erect a flagpole ourselves.”