The flag, which has been branded ‘disrespectful’ by locals, cost the council more than £3,700 in expenses.
The flag has been slammed by local residents (Image: Ollie Thompson/Solent News)
Residents in a UK town have been left furious after their council installed a cut-off angled Union Jack flag outside the town hall. The locals have slammed the flag as “pathetic” and “disrespectful” while one asked if it had been bought from budget marketplace Temu.
The flag has been put up in the town of Whitchurch, in Hampshire, and has left people fuming. There was previously a full Union Jack flag outside Whitchurch Town Hall but officials decided to replace it with a cut-down version. They paid a total of £275.80 for the flag and invested a further £3,503.55 for the removal and replacement of the flagpole. Pictures show that almost half the flag has been cut off white it is flown from an angled flagpole.
As reported by the Daily Mail, a number of angry locals have reacted to the flag online. Chris Smith said: “In my opinion cutting the flag is disrespectful.”
Deborah Sanger added: “When you think that the Union Flag is supposed to be lowered each day at sundown or alternatively illuminated throughout the night, you can begin to see that there are particular ways and traditions associated with the treatment of the flag. I don’t think this cut-down version meets the requirements.”
Brian Jackman wrote: “I personally think it is a shame that our national flag can be cut down like this and the council and town hall trustees think it’s acceptable to fly it like that.” John Rampton asked: “Did they buy that from Temu?”
Katie Jane Buckley put: “It would be nice to see a full Union Jack flag flying outside the Town Hall. This ‘angled’ flag is an extravagant and unnecessary purchase at a time when our taxes are about to go up and food banks continue to be heavily relied on.”
Town hall trustees have decided to keep the flag as it is despite backlash (Image: Ollie Thompson/Solent News)
However, town hall trustees have decided to keep the flag as it is. They said they “unanimously agreed” to keep the flag despite the backlash.
Whitchurch Town Council said in a statement: “Trustees unanimously agreed to keep the current flag in place. The UK Flag Institute has confirmed that the flag is acceptable for a overnment building. The situation will be reviewed when the flag eventually needs replacing.”
The local authority also noted feedback received online, adding: “Trustees were also mindful of avoiding unnecessary expense and considered the climate emergency, particularly in relation to waste, as the flag is still new.”
