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SDLP Angry at "Loyalist" Flags in South Belfast
The SDLP* have raised concern about a number of flags put up on lamp posts along the Lisburn Road last night. Apparently a number of men put up Union Flags and Northern Ireland flags along the road and the SDLP have claimed that they should be taken down because it's a mixed area. The flags were put up from Tate's Avenue on up the Lisburn Road to the police station and beyond.
I'm not quite sure how mixed the area is but I wasn't too purturbed by the flags. Unlike the case in Holywood last week, no paramilitary flags were put up just the national flags of the United Kingdom and the 'Ulster Banner' which is commonly used as the flag of Northern Ireland.
I must admit that despite my desire not to offend people, I'm quite happy with the flags along the Lisburn Road. I think they brighten the place up and it does make me feel ever so slightly patriotic. As far as I'm aware the Lisburn Road is usually a fairly major marching route too (forgive me, I'm not that well up on the Orange Order) but there's a caveat that goes along with my support. I think they must be taken down before the end of the summer - something I somehow doubt this will happen. When the flags are left up too long they become dirty and tattered and basically they turn into eyesores. A flag should not be left in that state whether it's on a lamp post or flying from a flag pole, it's just not right.
* I thought I heard on BBC Newsline this morning that it was Big Al McDonnell (the new MP for the area), but the BBC website reports that it's West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood.