A councillor campaigning for a flagpole to be installed in Sheerness has come up against another hurdle.

In April we reported how there will be one put in at the Sheppey Gateway once “legal issues” surrounding the partnership between Swale council and Kent County Council are resolved.

Cllr Steve Worrall has been trying to get an agreement for one to be put up at the building since before it opened.

Last week he discovered yet another barrier in his fight for somewhere to fly a flag marking mark national events.

He has now found out he has to wait until a survey has been done to see if there is any asbestos in the external brickwork of the building, in the High Street.

Cllr Worrall said: “It’s gone through every single agency and Health and Safety and we still have not got to the stage it can be done. I just hope this is the last agency.

“If anybody can think of any others that are left, don’t say anything because they will have to get involved.

“I’ve done everything I can and it’s been two-and-a-half years and I have still got nothing.

“Whether this will be the final hurdle I don’t know, but no doubt somebody somewhere will find another two or three hurdles to jump.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that you can get nothing done in Sheerness if you can’t get a flagpole.”

Cllr Worrall wants one at the centre because it is the only public building in the high street and he believes Islanders will be proud if they could see the national flag.

Swale council says it is committed to delivering the flagpole but as KCC owns the building it has to wait until it is given the go-ahead.

A spokesman for the county council says a survey has been carried out to look at the issue of whether there is any asbestos in the building, which is almost 90 years old.

A report will then be prepared and if it is clear of the material, a flagpole can be installed.
If there is some inside, it will need to be removed before anything can happen.