Click Lancashire
The owners of a Lancashire fish and chip shop have been forced to take down their Union Jack sign, as it was described as “gaudy” and “too busy”.
Lesley Salthouse and her husband Peter, who have run Naze Lane Chippy in Freckleton for almost 25 years, were told the sign was not in keeping with the village.
The sign has a simple Union Jack flag in the middle, with two St George’s flags on either side.
The couple lodged a planning applicaton after a single complaint trigged the council to take action, but it was denied.
They then took their case to the planning inspectorate in Bristol, but they were again rejected.
Lesley, 53, was furious at the decision and said: “We are an English fish and chip shop, yet we cannot even use our own flag to celebrate that.
“There is nothing more traditional than a Union Jack flag and our patron saint of England is St George so why not have that flag on either side of our sign?
“If you go to Spain or Portugal you see their national flag in so many bars and restaurants.
“You see more national flags abroad than in our own country, which I think is really sad.”
Freckleton Parish Council approved the planning application, but it was Fylde Borough Council that denied it on the basis that the design was “oversized and gaudy with too many angles, triangles and colour”.
That’s outrageous that there is Any intolerance for their own flag in their own country.
I feel infuriated For them. I hope they don’t give up !
I wonder if Queen Elizabeth II ever reads British “commoner” news.
I can’t imagine her NOT being angry that these loyal Brits are being told to take down their own flag.