A COUNCIL has been criticised after erecting a new flag pole and a Union flag in a Co Derry village.
The pole is believed to have been put close to a war memorial in the village of Garvagh earlier this month.
It is understood the pole, which is said to be around 15-20 feet high, was bolted onto the ground.
Although Garvagh is a majority unionist village, several surrounding areas are mainly nationalist.
The Irish News understands the pole was unused until Tuesday when a flag was attached to it by a group of men who appeared while the village was being decorated ahead of the Twelfth.
It has been claimed that several flags have been put up on the pole and removed this week in a bizarre sequence of events.
The flag put up by youths on Tuesday was later taken down and replaced by a Union flag put up by two council workers.
It is understood that minutes later that flag was also removed and replaced.
In another twist this flag was also replaced yesterday by a second Union flag.
According to the Parade Commission’s website a small Orange parade is expected to take place in the village tonight.
East Derry assembly member John Dallat was critical of the council decision to put the flagpole in place.
"Clearly the council needs to be aware it has an awful lot to do to deliver in terms of bringing people together,” he said.
“Given that paramilitary flags have now encroached on the main shopping district in Coleraine it seems inappropriate that the council has been observed putting up flag poles in Garvagh.”
The SDLP MLA added that the council has “a lot to do in terms of image and delivering partnership and government at a local level”.
“Their record is abysmal,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the council last night claimed that the “flag pole was installed to facilitate the flying of the flag by the Royal British Legion for the Somme commemoration this weekend”.
“It is a temporary pole installed for this date and this date only.
“It was only our intention to install it for over the weekend.
"It is due to be removed again early next week.”
Asked if an application had been made to planners a spokeswoman said: “In a case like this a temporary pole which will be erected for a short period is of no planning consequence.”
