‘PUT OUT MORE FLAGS FOR BRITAIN’
A PETITION has been launched to raise Union flags on Penzance promenade, after a set that had been put up without permission were taken down.
The 18 Union flags were erected on the new flag poles installed by Cornwall Council along the promenade on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the UK leaving the European Union. However, this was done without the permission of Cornwall Council. As a result, the flags were removed for health and safety reasons, as they were said to pose a danger due to stormy weather.
The Mayor of Penzance, Councillor Nicole Broadhurst, explained that the flags were not removed because they were Union flags but because they were unauthorised. She said: “Our Union flag is not offensive – it represents the whole of the United Kingdom.
“The only issue here is that the flags were put up without any consultation or permission and so they do have to come down. The fact that they are Union flags has nothing to do with this point.
“Any flag flown from the poles needs to have been given permission from the owners of the poles – in this case that is Cornwall Council.”
The petition for the flags to be reinstated – along with St Piran flags – was launched by Stacey Haines of Penzance. She said: “We appreciate the Mayor said they were put up without the correct permission, so this is the start of getting permission. We would therefore like the public support first.
“We would like to start a petition to get them put back up again with the St Piran’s flag in an alternate style to show the respect of both flags and unite us.”