OLYMPICS: Bunting will be used at Torch relay after all (From The Oxford Times)

OLYMPICS: Bunting will be used at Torch relay after all

9:30am Thursday 28th June 2012 in Olympics News: Oxfordshire

HANDMADE patriotic bunting will now decorate Bicester’s main street for the Olympic Torch Relay.

Last week, Trudi Lee, pictured, claimed she was told the 750 metres of bunting, made by more than 2,000 primary school children, could not be hung in Sheep Street for health and safety reasons.

But Cherwell District Council said it believes Mrs Lee “misinterpreted” her conversation with a council officer, and said it was only concerned the bunting would be damaged.

Cherwell’s lead member for performance and customers, Nicholas Turner, said: “The bunting in question was carefully crafted by children in Bicester and they have each been told they will get their flag back.

“For this reason, the council did not wish to hang it across the Olympic Torch Relay route as it would likely be damaged.

“Bicester Town Council has now arranged for the bunting to be strung at a lower level along the main torch route within the town centre.”

Mrs Lee, of Severn Close, who organised the bunting project as part of the Queen’s Jubilee big lunch celebration in Bicester, said: “Absolute rubbish. I was told it was a health and safety issue. I did not misinterpret it.

The Olympic Torch will travel through Bicester, Kirtlington, Kidlington and Oxford on July 9.