A Labour-run borough council has rejected a local couple’s request to erect a flagpole to fly a Union Jack outside of their home. Councillors in Warrington turned down the resident’s application for a seven-metre pole on the grounds that it would not make a “positive contribution” to the area. The Cheshire couple hope to install the pole in their front garden at home on Cann Lane North in Appleton.
However, council planners said they were not able to due to the flagpole’s “significant scale and prominent placement” which meant it would not “respect, sustain, or make a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness within the surrounding area”. According to planning documents, the homeowners planned to fly the UK’s national flag from the pole, which would span 1.83 metres wide and 0.91 metres high.
Warrington council planners rejected the couple’s proposal (Image: Getty)
The couple submitted the request to Warrington Borough Council, where they sought full planning permission for the pole.
The flag would sit outside of the two-storey detached property, which has five-bedrooms and is located in a residential area in the town.
The Labour council said the pole would have exceeded the legal limit that allows poles up to 4.6 metres without planning permission. It added that, due to its positioning, it would’ve stood higher than the surrounding homes.
Neighbours had also raised concerns, with two residents submittinng letters of objections to the council due the affect the flagpole would have on the appearance of the area, as well as the potential noise impact due to the flag flapping in the wind.
During the planning committee meeting at Appleton Parish Council, members raised additional worries of the impact that nearby homes may face.
According to the planning officer’s report, the proposal “vastly exceeds the 4.6m maximum allowed height” for flagpoles that don’t require permission.
Images were mocked up of the flagpole outside of the home, and they showed the flag flying higher than the neighbouring house.
The council’s formal rejection stated that the development would be “contrary to the aims and objectives of planning policy”.
Council officials have emphasised that their decision to reject the proposal was solely based on the size of the flagpole, and not due to the type of flag which would have been displayed.