Claxton council told Union Jack flag will scare people away

But the Union Jack is proving to be anything but in one Norfolk village.

Locals in Claxton have urged their parish council to block the raising of the national flag as they believe it will frighten people off from moving to the area.

The extraordinary row has been prompted by the proposed installation of a new flagpole at Claxton and Carlton St Peter village hall.

Permission for the pole has already been granted by the parish council, but a debate about which flags may be flown from it has led to tensions between parishioners.

While some believe the Union Jack should be raised as a symbol of patriotism and national pride, others claim the flag has "negative connotations" and flying it may cross a "fine line between patriotism and nationalism".

The ongoing row has even embroiled Ben Goldsborough, MP for South Norfolk, after one of the villagers opposed to the flag urged him to intervene.

He has declined to either back or oppose the flying of the national flag and has said the villagers should resolve it themselves.

The Claxton Village Hall where the committee want to erect a flagpole flying the Union Jack (Image: Denise Bradley)

IDEA IS RUN UP THE FLAGPOLE

The trouble dates back to May when the village hall committee approached Claxton Parish Council to seek permission to install a six-metre flagpole on their grounds.

The group hoped to fly the Union flag, the St George's flag and the flag of Norfolk to mark various occasions, such as major holidays and events at the hall. 

Claxton, near Loddon (Image: Denise Bradley)

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At the time, some villagers requested there be a questionnaire to assess whether locals wanted to see these flags raised in the centre of the village.

However, the council decided to press ahead with its decision and gave the committee the green light for the pole at its meeting last month.

RED FLAG OVER UNION FLAG

The flagpole is expected to be raised in the coming weeks.

However, the issue of what should be flown remains up in the air and tensions are rising, with some still concerned that the Union flag may be raised over their village.

In the minutes from the July parish council meeting, the Union Jack was described as "divisive" by one parishioner, while another said that the authority should consider the "fine line between patriotism and nationalism" before allowing the flagpole to be erected. He suggested using bunting instead of flying a flag.

At an earlier meeting, a parishioner told the council there were "strong feelings" about the issue, with many locals against the idea of a flagpole because of concerns over the Union Jack.

That meeting heard claims that it might discourage people from using the hall or even "put people off moving into the village", citing "connotations surrounding the Union Jack flag".

MOTIVATIONS QUESTIONED

One of those concerned about the flag is Glynnis White, who lives near the village hall.

"The flag is often used as a symbol against immigration and it would worry me if it was being used in the wrong way," she said.

"We should be proud of where we come from but I would like to know more about peoples' motivations [for flying the flag]."

Sue Wallis-Garcia, a member of the parish council, abstained from a vote on the flagpole as she felt the views of local people about the flying of the flag should have been assessed.
John Garcia (Image: Denise Bradley)

Her husband, John Garcia, added: "People have been really riled up about this and the hall are dragging their feet now it's actually come down to putting it up.

"I don't know if I've ever seen the Union Jack flown at a village hall before and it does have certain connotations."

RAISE THE FLAG!

However, others are keen to see the flag go up in their village.

David Harrison, who moved to Claxton two years ago, said: "We love it here and everyone is very friendly - I'm surprised to hear that people are against this."

His wife, Nancy, added: "Why should we be ashamed of our flag? If it puts people off from moving here then they shouldn't."

David Harrison and his dog, Daisy (Image: Denise Bradley)

Dick Thompson, who has lived in Claxton for 63 years, said: "There are a lot of new people who have moved here and want to change things - new streetlights and new flagpoles.

"I've got nothing against it as long as it's just the Union Jack."

Lillian and Dick Thompson (Image: Denise Bradley)

Susan Ellis added: "I'm all for it - we should be embracing patriotism."

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Susan Ellis (Image: Denise Bradley)

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? 

The row has caught the attention of Ben Goldsborough, MP for South Norfolk, who was approached by one local opposing the flying of the national flag. 

He said he has written to the parish council to encourage them to make sure all information about the matter was made public, to make the affair as transparent as possible. 

South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldsborough (Image: Denise Bradley)

He added: "The most important thing is making sure that all residents feel listened to.

"There are people for and against this and they all need to have some buy-in in the process."

FLAG RULES

The village hall committee will be responsible for the flagpole once it is installed.

It will follow government guidelines on what should be flown outside public buildings.

These rules allow for the Union Jack, the St George's flag and others such as those belonging to sports clubs, the NHS flag and the rainbow flag. 

The parish council has also encouraged community engagement in the possible development of a specific Claxton flag.