‘The council instructed me to take down a flag – I’ve put up an enormous 100ft Union Jack as an alternative’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

A property developer from Derbyshire has erected an enormous 100-foot Union Jack after a council pressured him to take down a smaller model that breached planning guidelines. James Holmes put in an 11-metre flag on the aspect of the previous North East Derbyshire District Council constructing in Saltergate, Chesterfield, in September. Chesterfield Borough Council ordered him to take it down on the grounds that it was an “unauthorised advertisement” as a result of it promoted a web site linked to Mr Holmes’s Fly the Flag marketing campaign, aimed toward “encouraging every UK resident to proudly fly the Union Jack”.

In response, the developer has printed a fair bigger flag, spanning 100 ft, at a private value of £3,000 to hold on the construction, which he owns. The native authority confirmed that it will not be eradicating the bigger set up. “The flag was a mistake – I should have made it bigger,” Mr Holmes stated.

He instructed the BBC: “I could have had it two metres bigger [and it would] still fit on that part of the building. I might order another one now for the other half of the building as well.

“The flag brightens up the road as a result of the solar is at all times on this aspect, which at all times seems to be nice.”

Recognising the media attention focused on the town as a result of the display, he added: “It was by no means meant to be controversial, however clearly, apart from the crooked spire, Chesterfield proper at this second is extra well-known for this flag.”

Union Jacks and St George’s flags have been attached to railings, flagposts, signs and structures all over the country in recent months in a campaign known as Operation Raise the Colours.

While some participants have insisted the displays are simply expressions of patriotism, critics have accused the campaign of racism and xenophobia.

The widespread flag-flying has also caused tensions at a local level, with several councils removing them from public infrastructure, citing public safety concerns.

A spokesperson for Chesterfield Borough Council said: “It’s evident that Mr Holmes is eager to recognise our nationwide interval of Remembrance, which is one thing we additionally worth extremely as a council.

“We did contact Mr Holmes in relation to the previous union flags on the front, and on top of the building, as these advertised a commercial website and are therefore classed as unauthorised advertisements.

“We intend to take enforcement motion if the remaining unauthorised commercial just isn’t eliminated.”