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Council U-turn in flag row

6:30am Monday 28th April 2008

comment Comments (104)   Have your say »

By Paddy McGuffin »

Council chiefs have been forced into a humiliating U-turn over the flying of the Union flag at half-mast on City Hall.

They initially refused to make the mark of respect today to people who have died in industrial accidents.

Supporters of the Inter- national Workers Memorial Day were stunned when the authority said it was too much of a health and safety risk for an employee to lower the roof-top flag.

The decision was described as "outrageous" and "diabolical" by backers of the memorial day who include MPs and trades unionists.

Council chief executive Tony Reeves has now had to apologise admitting "the health and safety issue had been overstated".

The original decision was disclosed in a letter sent to Bradford MPs Gerry Sutcliffe and Terry Rooney in which Council officials stated that: "Flags should be lowered to half mast only on the death of a Freeman of the City, Lord Mayor or Lady Mayoress, serving member of the Council, ex-Lord Mayor or ex-Lady Mayoress of CBMDC, local Member of Parliament or for a national day of mourning."

It continued: "It should be noted that the practice of flying flags from City Hall was revised two years ago to minimise the number of times flags have to be raised and lowered from the roof.

"One of the chief reasons for doing this was concerns for the health and safety of staff who have to carry out the operation, working at height and in sometimes difficult weather conditions."

Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney said he had been outraged by the Council's initial decision.

He said: "I am glad they have come to their senses, one should always welcome a sinner who repents.

"Hundreds and thousands of workers have lost their lives in the workplace around Bradford and it is only right this be acknowledged. I'm sure the families of those who died will welcome the decision."

Unison, which represents a large number of Council employees, was also scathing about the original stance.

Its regional officer Steve Torrance said: "It was diabolical that Bradford Council would not at first recognise workers who have been killed, injured or made ill by their work by simply affording them the same recognition they show to Councillors, Lord Mayors and other dignitaries on their death."

Jane Howie, of Bradford Area Safety Reps Association, said it was a nonsense to claim there was a health and safety issue about lowering the roof-top flag.

She said: "One of the chief reasons given for not lowering the flag is concerns for the health and safety of staff who have to carry out the operation, working at height and in sometimes difficult weather conditions yet the flags are lowered for the death of important' people - like a Freeman of the City.

"Lowering the flag is either dangerous or not dangerous and if it is dangerous they should not have to do it for anybody.

Apologising at the weekend for the original decision, Council chief executive Mr Reeves said: "The health and safety issues around lowering the flag on City Hall for Workers' Memorial Day have been overstated. I apologise for this and the flag will be at half mast on Monday, April 28."

Salman Mather, the Council's director of democratic services, added: "We do restrict the number of times the flags fly at half-mast because they have to be physically lowered by someone going on to the roof of City Hall which means they are working at height and sometimes also exposed to difficult weather conditions.

"We try to reduce risk to health and safety by limiting the number of occasions on which flags have to be raised and lowered."

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Your Say YourBradford

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
8:08am Mon 28 Apr 08

THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.

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GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
8:08am Mon 28 Apr 08

THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
8:08am Mon 28 Apr 08

THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
8:08am Mon 28 Apr 08

THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.

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chris, BRADFORD says...
8:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

I going to called the Council today to info them i cant pay my council tax due to health and safety.

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chris, BRADFORD says...
8:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

I going to called the Council today to info them i cant pay my council tax due to health and safety.

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chris, BRADFORD says...
8:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

I going to called the Council today to info them i cant pay my council tax due to health and safety.

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chris, BRADFORD says...
8:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

I going to called the Council today to info them i cant pay my council tax due to health and safety.

Report this post »

Divers_uk, Bingley says...
8:24am Mon 28 Apr 08

Someone got their jobsworth at BMDC as usual

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Divers_uk, Bingley says...
8:24am Mon 28 Apr 08

Someone got their jobsworth at BMDC as usual

Report this post »

Divers_uk, Bingley says...
8:24am Mon 28 Apr 08

Someone got their jobsworth at BMDC as usual

Report this post »

Divers_uk, Bingley says...
8:24am Mon 28 Apr 08

Someone got their jobsworth at BMDC as usual

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
9:00am Mon 28 Apr 08

I have to say that if the flag is lowered for any old occasion then it'll never be at full mast so the 'elf and safety issue wouldn't apply.

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
9:00am Mon 28 Apr 08

I have to say that if the flag is lowered for any old occasion then it'll never be at full mast so the 'elf and safety issue wouldn't apply.

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
9:00am Mon 28 Apr 08

I have to say that if the flag is lowered for any old occasion then it'll never be at full mast so the 'elf and safety issue wouldn't apply.

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
9:00am Mon 28 Apr 08

I have to say that if the flag is lowered for any old occasion then it'll never be at full mast so the 'elf and safety issue wouldn't apply.

Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
9:09am Mon 28 Apr 08

GEOFF wrote:
THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.
Spot on Geoff, this is just another example of the can,t be bothered brigade hiding behind health and safety to get out of doing something, or maybe the union flag may offend (remember the st georges day farce !!!)

Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
9:09am Mon 28 Apr 08

GEOFF wrote:
THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.
Spot on Geoff, this is just another example of the can,t be bothered brigade hiding behind health and safety to get out of doing something, or maybe the union flag may offend (remember the st georges day farce !!!)

Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
9:09am Mon 28 Apr 08

GEOFF wrote:
THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.
Spot on Geoff, this is just another example of the can,t be bothered brigade hiding behind health and safety to get out of doing something, or maybe the union flag may offend (remember the st georges day farce !!!)

Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
9:09am Mon 28 Apr 08

GEOFF wrote:
THIS FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING ALL THE TIME, AND PUT AT HALF MAST WHEN NEEDED.
Spot on Geoff, this is just another example of the can,t be bothered brigade hiding behind health and safety to get out of doing something, or maybe the union flag may offend (remember the st georges day farce !!!)

Report this post »

skippy, says...
10:36am Mon 28 Apr 08

fly the flag at all times,be proud of our flag and our country.

Report this post »

skippy, says...
10:36am Mon 28 Apr 08

fly the flag at all times,be proud of our flag and our country.

Report this post »

skippy, says...
10:36am Mon 28 Apr 08

fly the flag at all times,be proud of our flag and our country.

Report this post »

skippy, says...
10:36am Mon 28 Apr 08

fly the flag at all times,be proud of our flag and our country.

Report this post »

tariq_m, Bradford says...
11:14am Mon 28 Apr 08

for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.

Report this post »

tariq_m, Bradford says...
11:14am Mon 28 Apr 08

for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.

Report this post »

tariq_m, Bradford says...
11:14am Mon 28 Apr 08

for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.

Report this post »

tariq_m, Bradford says...
11:14am Mon 28 Apr 08

for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

tariq_m wrote:
for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.
Probably, but it would need 3 sub committees and 5 years consideration to decide.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

tariq_m wrote:
for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.
Probably, but it would need 3 sub committees and 5 years consideration to decide.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

tariq_m wrote:
for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.
Probably, but it would need 3 sub committees and 5 years consideration to decide.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:16am Mon 28 Apr 08

tariq_m wrote:
for around £400 they could get a remote control setup - push button; flag goes up, push button, flag goes down...now isn't that simple.
Probably, but it would need 3 sub committees and 5 years consideration to decide.

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
11:25am Mon 28 Apr 08

ah but the unions would then complain that the 14 flag safety officers were being made redundant by technology.

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
11:25am Mon 28 Apr 08

ah but the unions would then complain that the 14 flag safety officers were being made redundant by technology.

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
11:25am Mon 28 Apr 08

ah but the unions would then complain that the 14 flag safety officers were being made redundant by technology.

Report this post »

Baht At, says...
11:25am Mon 28 Apr 08

ah but the unions would then complain that the 14 flag safety officers were being made redundant by technology.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
12:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Rubbish!

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
12:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Rubbish!

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
12:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Rubbish!

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
12:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Rubbish!

Report this post »

born n bred, Bradford says...
1:22pm Mon 28 Apr 08

The council will now set up a strategy commitee, to assess the strategic pros and cons of strategically lowering the flag to a strategic hieght. Then they'll have a vote, all disagree, put it to the people on a questionaire asking 'do you think it is a bad idea to have the flag halfway up the pole or should it be halfway down.

I would vote for halfway down judging by the state of the City it should be halfway down perminently in memory of the City!

Report this post »

born n bred, Bradford says...
1:22pm Mon 28 Apr 08

The council will now set up a strategy commitee, to assess the strategic pros and cons of strategically lowering the flag to a strategic hieght. Then they'll have a vote, all disagree, put it to the people on a questionaire asking 'do you think it is a bad idea to have the flag halfway up the pole or should it be halfway down.

I would vote for halfway down judging by the state of the City it should be halfway down perminently in memory of the City!

Report this post »

born n bred, Bradford says...
1:22pm Mon 28 Apr 08

The council will now set up a strategy commitee, to assess the strategic pros and cons of strategically lowering the flag to a strategic hieght. Then they'll have a vote, all disagree, put it to the people on a questionaire asking 'do you think it is a bad idea to have the flag halfway up the pole or should it be halfway down.

I would vote for halfway down judging by the state of the City it should be halfway down perminently in memory of the City!

Report this post »

born n bred, Bradford says...
1:22pm Mon 28 Apr 08

The council will now set up a strategy commitee, to assess the strategic pros and cons of strategically lowering the flag to a strategic hieght. Then they'll have a vote, all disagree, put it to the people on a questionaire asking 'do you think it is a bad idea to have the flag halfway up the pole or should it be halfway down.

I would vote for halfway down judging by the state of the City it should be halfway down perminently in memory of the City!

Report this post »

bradfordian, bradford says...
1:31pm Mon 28 Apr 08

i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.

Report this post »

bradfordian, bradford says...
1:31pm Mon 28 Apr 08

i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.

Report this post »

bradfordian, bradford says...
1:31pm Mon 28 Apr 08

i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.

Report this post »

bradfordian, bradford says...
1:31pm Mon 28 Apr 08

i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

albion wrote:
Rubbish!
Sorry this was a reply to a post which seems to have got the axe.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

albion wrote:
Rubbish!
Sorry this was a reply to a post which seems to have got the axe.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

albion wrote:
Rubbish!
Sorry this was a reply to a post which seems to have got the axe.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:06pm Mon 28 Apr 08

albion wrote:
Rubbish!
Sorry this was a reply to a post which seems to have got the axe.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:10pm Mon 28 Apr 08

bradfordian wrote:
i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.
And some of your devious little digs remind me of a man called Hitler, stick to the plot.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:10pm Mon 28 Apr 08

bradfordian wrote:
i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.
And some of your devious little digs remind me of a man called Hitler, stick to the plot.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:10pm Mon 28 Apr 08

bradfordian wrote:
i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.
And some of your devious little digs remind me of a man called Hitler, stick to the plot.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
2:10pm Mon 28 Apr 08

bradfordian wrote:
i agree,the flag should be at half-mast today.so many workers have lost their lives making money for the rich.seeing the bnp has been mentioned there is in fighting at the mill.nick griffin has got rid of a whole committee because they were not doing what they were told.nick has taken over from this committee .he reminds me of man called hitler.he liked the absolute power.people you must see what is happening.turn your power into making your representative resposible for their actions.it can be done.did you watch the estate we live in.it shows what can be done to change things without blaming everyone else around you.
And some of your devious little digs remind me of a man called Hitler, stick to the plot.

Report this post »

Divers_uk, Bingley says...
2:33pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Bet Hitler did not have a H&S problem with raising & lowering the flag though?

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Divers_uk, Bingley says...
2:33pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Bet Hitler did not have a H&S problem with raising & lowering the flag though?

Report this post »

Divers_uk, Bingley says...
2:33pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Bet Hitler did not have a H&S problem with raising & lowering the flag though?

Report this post »

Divers_uk, Bingley says...
2:33pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Bet Hitler did not have a H&S problem with raising & lowering the flag though?

Report this post »

ayatollahsimpson, BRADFORD says...
3:28pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Surely - the only time that the flag should fly at half mast is when Bahtat returns with yet another identity.

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ayatollahsimpson, BRADFORD says...
3:28pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Surely - the only time that the flag should fly at half mast is when Bahtat returns with yet another identity.

Report this post »

ayatollahsimpson, BRADFORD says...
3:28pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Surely - the only time that the flag should fly at half mast is when Bahtat returns with yet another identity.

Report this post »

ayatollahsimpson, BRADFORD says...
3:28pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Surely - the only time that the flag should fly at half mast is when Bahtat returns with yet another identity.

Report this post »

driver, Shipley says...
3:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Half mast does not mean half way up. It should be flown one flag width from the top to symbolise the death flag which would historically have been flown at the mast head. If you are going to get cross at least get it right.

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driver, Shipley says...
3:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Half mast does not mean half way up. It should be flown one flag width from the top to symbolise the death flag which would historically have been flown at the mast head. If you are going to get cross at least get it right.

Report this post »

driver, Shipley says...
3:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Half mast does not mean half way up. It should be flown one flag width from the top to symbolise the death flag which would historically have been flown at the mast head. If you are going to get cross at least get it right.

Report this post »

driver, Shipley says...
3:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Half mast does not mean half way up. It should be flown one flag width from the top to symbolise the death flag which would historically have been flown at the mast head. If you are going to get cross at least get it right.

Report this post »

Woody, Manningham says...
4:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Replace the Union Jack with the black flag. Up the workers!

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Woody, Manningham says...
4:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Replace the Union Jack with the black flag. Up the workers!

Report this post »

Woody, Manningham says...
4:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Replace the Union Jack with the black flag. Up the workers!

Report this post »

Woody, Manningham says...
4:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Replace the Union Jack with the black flag. Up the workers!

Report this post »

Legend, says...
5:03pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Supporters of the Inter- national Workers Memorial Day were stunned when the authority said it was too much of a health and safety risk for an employee to lower the roof-top flag.

That's what they said to all the St Georges Day parades throughout the UK. Our history & heritage is being stripped from us. WAKE UP PEOPLE.

Report this post »

Legend, says...
5:03pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Supporters of the Inter- national Workers Memorial Day were stunned when the authority said it was too much of a health and safety risk for an employee to lower the roof-top flag.

That's what they said to all the St Georges Day parades throughout the UK. Our history & heritage is being stripped from us. WAKE UP PEOPLE.

Report this post »

Legend, says...
5:03pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Supporters of the Inter- national Workers Memorial Day were stunned when the authority said it was too much of a health and safety risk for an employee to lower the roof-top flag.

That's what they said to all the St Georges Day parades throughout the UK. Our history & heritage is being stripped from us. WAKE UP PEOPLE.

Report this post »

Legend, says...
5:03pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Supporters of the Inter- national Workers Memorial Day were stunned when the authority said it was too much of a health and safety risk for an employee to lower the roof-top flag.

That's what they said to all the St Georges Day parades throughout the UK. Our history & heritage is being stripped from us. WAKE UP PEOPLE.

Report this post »

mrs walker, round here says...
5:37pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Perhaps a more philosophical view would be to fly the flag permanently at half-mast. This would mean that in times of optimism it could be regarded as halfway up, and at times of dispiritedness or mourning, as halfway down, thus obviating the need to amend its position at all. (Much in the way that I contemplate my daily glass of stout...glass half empty? Glass half full?.. Whichever it is I'm sure I can squeeze another half in there, landlord..) :-)

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mrs walker, round here says...
5:37pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Perhaps a more philosophical view would be to fly the flag permanently at half-mast. This would mean that in times of optimism it could be regarded as halfway up, and at times of dispiritedness or mourning, as halfway down, thus obviating the need to amend its position at all. (Much in the way that I contemplate my daily glass of stout...glass half empty? Glass half full?.. Whichever it is I'm sure I can squeeze another half in there, landlord..) :-)

Report this post »

mrs walker, round here says...
5:37pm Mon 28 Apr 08

Perhaps a more philosophical view would be to fly the flag permanently at half-mast. This would mean that in times of optimism it could be regarded as halfway up, and at times of dispiritedness or mourning, as halfway down, thus obviating the need to amend its position at all. (Much in the way that I contemplate my daily glass of stout...glass half empty? Glass half full?.. Whichever it is I'm sure I can squeeze another half in there, landlord..) :-)