Killjoy council officials have told a hard-working group of parents that if they want them to put up bunting to celebrate one of the most exciting months in their town’s history they will have to cough up £1500 for the privilege.
The Cupar Children’s Gala Committee decided it wanted to put up bunting in two town centre streets to mark the gala on June 2 the Queen’s diamond jubilee which falls the same weekend, and the journey of the Olympic Torch through the town on June 12.
After spending around £200 on its own bunting which would be used to ”celebrate Cupar” at various events in the years ahead, Fife Council says it will have to charge £1500 to cover the costs of stringing the bunting up in Bonnygate and at The Cross.
The gala committee has also been warned by the council that it should check its insurance because it might be sued for damages if the bunting were to be put up and then fall down, hitting a passer-by.
Committee members and community leaders say they are ”furious” that Fife Council could not be more accommodating.
Joint committee chair Cheryl King said: ”This is outrageous. We are a hard-working, voluntary group trying to do what we can to brighten up the town centre and £1500 is a ridiculous amount of money.
“I appreciate Fife Council have got to put the bunting up and down safely, but £1500 is unrealistic for a community group like ours to absorb.”
Cupar Community Council secretary Douglas Provan described the situation as ”appalling”. He pointed out that in previous years a huge banner advertising events had been strung over Bonnygate, but this had already been outlawed on health and safety grounds.
He said: ”Fife Council have known about the jubilee and the Olympic torch relay for long enough. It’s amazing they can’t be more prepared.
“If the children’s gala can pay for the bunting, the least Fife Council could do is cover the cost of putting it up.”
Cupar Liberal Democrat Fife councillor Margaret Kennedy said she understood one option being considered by the gala committee was for businesses to put up the bunting themselves. Subject to approval from council officers, she understood this could avoid the £1500 costs.
Fife Council roads management lead officer Dave Smeaton said: ”The estimate is based on a full day’s work to put the bunting up and another day to take it down and requires the use of two cherry pickers.
”Should it prove more cost-effective for the group they could arrange for another contractor to undertake the work using a safe method of working which would need to be agreed with my team.”
Council area services manager Kate Hughes added: ”We want the gala to be a great success and very much appreciate the hard work that goes into making it so. We will look to meet with the organising committee at the earliest opportunity to get this resolved as quickly as possible.”
Photo by Stephen Pond/PA Archive