LETTER: ‘Ragged Union Flag is sign of council’s shambolic and disrespectful attitude’
The ragged Union flag of Wisbech - Credit: Archant
There are certain times in a man’s life when in looking around Wisbech we see something good. This time it is the façade of Constantine House, which after many years as the most expensive pigeon loft in the UK, has at last been blessed with windows and a roof - lovely.
It is such a shame that when you look over the road you can’t fail to see something completely different, which more accurately reflects, in my view, the shambolic and disrespectful attitude of the Wisbech Town Council to just about everything.
This time it is the Union Flag flying from the mast on top of the council chamber at 1 North Brink (See photo). It is ragged - all down the leading edge. Below the flag the front aspect of the council chamber is looking a bit worse for wear; the notice boards are dilapidated; the door furniture has not been polished for three years; the guttering and down pipes are dangerous; and the front steps have not been renewed or even maintained properly.
This kind of disrespect for the national flag, above everything else though, is really unforgivable. Five years ago the town council raised its share of the Council Tax by 35 per cent, accruing a surplus of £20,000 every year since then, which at that time was being put into an ‘acquisitions’ budget.
Since the precept has been maintained at the inflated rate, by my reckoning there is, therefore, a surplus of £100,000.
We also had £25,000 for improvements to the Market Place, and a further £18,000 towards improvements to the allotments - none of which has been spent - so why can’t Wisbech Town Council afford to buy a new Union flag? - Well - your guess is as good as mine.
I do try to let them just get on with it - honest, but I am afraid that I do find it astonishing how prone the David Oliver family and friends town council seems to get it so blatantly wrong so often.
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A little poem sprung to mind this morning that just about sums why I have to speak up.
Today, with myself,
I had a debate.
Am I to remain
Intellectually sedate?
And say nothing
To my Wisbech mate,
Or be considered arrogant
Enough to hate?
Or a hero breaking
Down the rusty gate
Behind which hides
The local political state?
And do you know
It must be my fate
The local politicians
To berate.
ERBIE MURAT
Guyhirn
