Craigavon Council to review flags policy

All 13 unionist councillors who were present at the meeting voted in favour of “reviewing with immediate effect the current flag policy with a view to extending the number of days currently permitted to fly the Union flag on civic buildings and in Lurgan and Portadown town centres”.

In seconding the motion DUP Alderman Sydney Anderson called on unionists to “roll back the clock” and undo the decision that was taken at council a decade ago, following legal advice, to fly the Union flag only on designated days.

Councillors from Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance opposed the motion, but were defeated by 13 votes to 11.

Sinn Fein Councillor Jonny McGibbon said: “A review should allow for the outcome that creates the fairest position. For the past 10 years, since 2002, Craigavon Council has operated a ‘designated days’ policy agreed by all parties and a genuine review could conceivably propose the removal of all flags from public buildings.”

For full story see this week’s Lurgan Mail and Portadown Times.