On Tuesday, September 22, the abbey confirmed that damage to the flagpole posed a risk to the public. After inspecting the flagpole, architect Louise Salman of Loop Architects in Salisbury identified the pressing need for repairs to prevent the possibility of the flagpole collapsing under strain. The damage to the flagpole(Image: Chris Pritchard)The Vicar, the Revd Canon Thomas Wharton, said: “While we know that people in the town miss the flags flying above the Abbey, safety is our priority. Since April this year, this practice has been suspended to avoid disturbing the pair of peregrines which nested and successfully raised four chicks on the roof of the Abbey. Now it is damage wrought by time and the elements which makes it unsafe to fly flags from the flagpole.