Sir, – Can someone out there please give me the real reason why the Union Jack on the Tour De France route at Grinton Moor was removed two days before the race, even though permission was given to create it.
The official response from North Yorkshire County Council was that “during a final sweep by contractors of the route to remove any debris somebody has been overzealous”.
As I spent a couple of days in that area helping with preparations I witnessed three men with a high pressure washer spending most of the day trying to remove the flag. So was it “overzealous officials’”, “Tour Ney Sayers” or even worse someone who thinks it was politically incorrect to display our flag, that gave the orders.
I don’t accept that it was a mistake by the contractors, I personally spoke to them and they were as baffled as I was (scapegoats?).
Following a social media backlash ,three more men (in separate vehicles) where dispatched the following day to try and make amends and affix two token Union Jacks to the grass either side of the road. The mind boggles!
Out of the 198 riders that make up the Tour De France, 30 different nationalities are represented, a ratio that many other sports can only dream about. I personally counted 27 different national flags on race day and I was more than proud to see mine, the Union Jack.
CHRIS PUGH Richmond.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here