PUBLIC meetings to discuss plans to fly the Union flag all year round on main council buildings and all war memorials are set to take place next week. The meetings, due to happen in Newtownards and Portaferry on Monday, October 24, come in the wake of Ards and North Down Council’s decision to rewrite its flag policy.
Previously the local authority has only flown the flag year-round on three war memorials and four council buildings, while the UK’s emblem was also flown on 15 designated days at the local authority’s Newtownards offices on Church Street.
Ten other war memorials could fly the flag around the time of the November 11 annual remembrance ceremonies, but for a maximum of a fortnight. Earlier this year, however, the council voted to have the UK’s flag flying high over its five major council buildings and all 13 war memorials permanently. The debate on doing so was held in March but kept secret, with the public and press barred from knowing which politicians voted for or against the year-round move. In the wake of the vote, however, it was stated that the all-year policy would likely come into effect before the end of this year.
Monday’s meetings are part of a necessary equality impact assessment that has to be carried out as part of the change in policy. Each meeting is set to last for one hour and are intended to gauge the public’s opinion on the move.
The Portaferry meeting starts at noon in the Market House on The Square, while the Newtownards event is in Ards Blair Mayne Leisure Centre at 7pm.
