Town is stuck with an unregistered flag (From Halesowen News)

Town is stuck with an unregistered flag

4:12pm Thursday 4th February 2010

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I wish to make it clear that whilst I am dissatisfied with the recent Halesowen Flag Competition, that is not down to the winning design or designer but rather with the process of the competition.

This dissatisfaction is due mainly to the desire to give Halesowen the best.

Flags have a technical function and there are distinct technical considerations that need to be adhered to.

Flag design is like baking a cake, there is an obvious artistic element but that rests upon scientific principles that make the product fit for purpose.

Such technical considerations in vexillology are simple and few in number. The banner chosen by the Halesowen Area Committee does not meet these criteria. This does not reflect badly upon the winning design but upon those in control of the decision process.

When I was first brought before the committee with my idea for a Halesowen flag I mentioned the UK Flag Institute but this advice was ignored. The Institute would have, for free, ensured the good design criteria were included in the initial request for submissions. Had this have been done I am sure the designers would have been up to the challenge.

The UK Flag Institute would also have been able to suggest tweaks to entries as well as advising on the technical considerations of the choice. Only the Monday before the vote did I find out that they had not been contacted.

I then contacted the councillor who had brought me to the attention of the committee to raise the potential problem. He did his own research and raised this at the pre-meeting before the vote, as well as declaring an interest.

The committee appear to have seen no need for advice and wilfully chose a flag they knew would not be technically fit for purpose.

Everyone who tried to create this symbol for Halesowen, especially the winner, should be proud. However the process behind the decision has undermined all that effort.

This was the reason for my ire on the night, especially as I had not made any comments about the technical issues of the other design during the session and had trusted they would have been considered after the specialist guidelines were provided by the councillor in the pre-session.

Sadly, Halesowen is now left with a banner that is un-registrable in the UK Flag Registry. I was told the Institute were not involved “because it is only a town flag”.

I find the lack of passion for the town and the inability to do the job correctly staggering, especially considering the work put in by 14 people.

My feelings were, I felt, reflected by some of the audience on that night as when I stated “it isn’t only a town flag, it’s Halesowen’s flag and it deserves the best” there were some cheers of “here, here”.

I will continue campaigning for local knowledge, community pride and social respect in the Black Country and its towns. Though it is sad there will be a Halesowen-shaped hole in the UK Flag Registry and that the campaign has become more symbolic of the problems than the pride in Halesowen.

I will finish by praising those who did Halesowen proud by trying their best to give Halesowen the best.

Philip Tibbetts, Still a proud Halesonian

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