Conwy Castle flag will fly on St David’s Day despite seagulls battle

Mar 4 2010 by David Powell, North Wales Weekly News

Conwy Castle flag will fly on St David’s Day despite seagulls battle

THE Welsh Dragon flag was flying from Conwy Castle on St David’s Day despite ongoing problems with health and safety and seagull droppings.

Historic buildings and ancient monuments body Cadw, who took the flag down at the end of the summer tourist season as usual, say the castle has a particular problem with seagulls.

Spikes were placed on its flagpoles to deter the birds, but the fluttering cloth gets snagged on the spikes and rips.

A Cadw spokesman said it is costly to get specialist contractors to climb up and detach the remnants of the flag.

He said: “The flags are getting tangled and soiled and we are still working on a solution.

“But the Welsh Dragon flag goes up on important occasions.”

Plaid Cymru Conwy County councillor Phil Edwards is baffled why Conwy is a special case.

“The Welsh Dragon can fly from other gusty landmarks like Caernarfon Castle and Harlech Castle.

“It’s ridiculous, given the brutality of Edward I towards the Welsh, that health and safety steps in 800 years on prevent us pulling a flag up a pole.”