Thank you to the Online BBC News Team for this inspiring gem.
This story reminded me of a tragic(for architectural and historical reasons purely) of our local Council’s argument with a developer who bought a beautiful building called ” The Mechanics Institute” probably over thirty years ago for a lowly sum and then proceeded ,despite the building being “listed” ,to let it deteriorate and go to ruin. I don’t think the developer ever had the money to ” turn the building into a hotel” and actually saw the value of the land for house building once the building was in such a state it had to be demolished.
So this story about a developer using a small union jack on the side of a building he owned to advertise a “Fly the Flag Campaign” on a former Council building which presumably the developer had bought from the Council struck a chord.
The developer was outraged when the Council asked him to remove the said Union Jack Flag .He responded by putting a Union Jack that completely covered the frontage of the five story building and the Council have said that they will not take any further action as the flag ” does not breach any planning rules”, and actually the Council feel that it can be considered as part of the National Remembrance period to remember our War Dead. Yes, the Union Jack represents the whole of the United Kingdom (or does it? * see below) and does seem an appropriate way to remember those that have died, and I’m sure the Council did not intend not to include Wales.
They will however pursue the developer for advertising a “Fly the Flag “”Website address on the building as this is deemed an unauthorised advertisement.
I can’t imagine if there are any tenants in the building how they will see out of it? Perhaps that is what the developer is upset about, he is not making any money out of the building and indeed it is costing him money. Why not use it to advertise his cause of ” Fly the Flag”. Has he got shares in British Airways?
For those of us who feel that flags are dangerous, I would say no. Flags are open to interpretation and anyone stupid enough in medieval times to run in front of load of marauders waving one, well they became part of history, respected perhaps , but not survivors. Unlike those who followed behind and picked up the pieces, tended the wounded and learned to live in Peace with each other . Flags are icons but they do not solve anything.
I like the Union Jack and the Cornish Flag, St David’s Flag (Gold and Black) I’ve always had a penchant for the St Andrews Cross and as I’m Irish the St Patrick’s Cross. * Apologies to Wales who aren’t included in the Union Jack , because when it was devised, Wales was regarded as part of England. Hence there is no Gold or Black in the Union Jack. Sounds like a recipe for a contentious , alcohol fuelled pub brawl.
So I won’t be joining “Fly the Flag Campaign” , not because I don’t like flags, they are colourful Icons, but in truth their origin’s can be contentious.
thenotsomightyom 