independent Cornish news and comment

KERNOW - ROW OVER NEW 'COUNTY COUNCIL' LOGO

After the controversy surrounding Cornwall County Council's application (and its subsequent approval) to become a Unitary Authority, insult has been added to injury by the decision of the council to remove Cornwall's coat of arms as the new authority's logo.


Even though people seem to be accepting the new authority (arguably because the County status was artificial anyway) as something that is now inevitably going to happen, the scraping of one of Cornwall's cherished cultural icons is a step too far for the Cornish people.

The Cornwall 'County' Council (CCC) coat of arms - properly referred to as a 'full achievement' - features a fisherman and tin miner flanking a shield with 15 gold Cornish bezants and a Cornish cough, was first registered with the College of Arms in the 1940's. However, the new Unitary Authority logo - a black and gold flame-like emblem and reminiscent of a Liberal Democrats design - has cost the council half a million pounds to create. Apart from the huge cost to taxpayers for the new logo, in one of the poorest places of the European Union, very few people actually like the design.

Independent Cornwall County Councillor, Julian German said:

"We... are just simply not prepared to sit idly by and allow our historic emblem to be ditched for an inferior logo which commands little public support. We feel it is crucial in a democracy that the views of the electorate are taken seriously by their elected representatives. This arrogant 'we know better' approach has to stop."

A petition has even been set up to help in the campaign to restore what has become a symbolic emblem of Cornwall that is widely cherished and internationally recognised.

The petition reads:

"We strongly feel that it is not an identifiable symbol for Cornwall. It fails to reflect Cornwall's unique heritage and distinctive culture. We urge the Joint Implementation Executive to listen to the people of Cornwall who wish to retain the current internationally recognised and respected traditional Cornish emblem."

Whether Cornwall's Council will get its own way again on this issue remains to be seen, but the clear message the electorate needs to give to the Liberal Democrat politicians in next year's first Unitary Authority elections and the following General Election, is a big thumbs down. Perhaps only then will the Liberal Democrats in Cornwall actually listen to the people, whose wishes they are supposed to be representing.

More about Cornwall's coat of arms at the link below:

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=13148

J B Moffatt

Director of Information
Celtic League

26/09/08