A giant St George’s Cross painted on the front of a pub in Wiltshire is a “racist symbol” making locals feel uncomfortable, it has been claimed. Jerry Kunkler, who runs the Moonrakers Inn in Pewsey, initially painted the 20ft by 20ft cross as a public show of support for the England football team for the 2016 European Championships.
It was later whitewashed when the pub underwent refurbishment, but Mr Kunkler, who is also a Conservative councillor, re-painted it for the 2022 World Cup. Then last November Wiltshire Council received a single complaint about the mural, which Mr Kunkler said he believes to have been made by a visitor from London who was staying at an AirBnB in the village. The complaint is reported to have claimed that the 17th century pub looked like “the headquarters of the National Front”.
Mr Kunkler has applied for restrospective permission to keep the mural. (Image: Jerry Kunkler / SWNS)
Because the pub is a Grade II listed building, the local authority instructed Mr Kunkler to restore the outside of the property to its former state or apply for planning permission.
Mr Kunkler has applied for retrospective permission to keep the mural, but the application has attracted a number of letters of objection, including one from local parish councillor and environmentalist Jayne Manley.
She said the St George’s Cross prominently displayed on public buildings was seen by some people to be an “anti-migrant” message.
Ms Manley quoted a recent poll in which 52% of ethnic minority adults said they consider the flag to have become a racist symbol.
She also questioned whether the paint job aligned with the rural village’s vision of being an open and inclusive community.
“A recent YouGov survey found that 52% of ethnic minority adults now consider the St George’s Cross to have become a racist symbol,” Ms Manley wrote, as reported by Bournemouth News.
“The same research found that both white and ethnic minority adults tended to view widespread England flag displays as primarily communicating anti-migrant or anti-ethnic minority messages rather than expressions of patriotism.
The publican says the paintjob is just an expression of national pride. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
“In this specific case, it appears that images of the pub façade have already been shared and circulated within political campaigning contexts, beyond the village.
“This demonstrates the symbol is no longer confined to a local or sporting interpretation and has entered a broader political narrative.
“Given Pewsey’s and Wiltshire’s commitment to inclusivity and community cohesion, there is a legitimate concern that such symbolism may cause some individuals to feel uncomfortable, excluded, or misrepresented.”
Other objectors to the mural said it had no place on a listed building, suggesting that anyone who made additions to protected sites would face objections.
Elizabeth Strutt said: “The reason for listing buildings is to preserve structures that are of special architectural or historic interest.
“This building historically did not have a cross painted on it at the time of listing and it detracts from the nature of the facade.
“If I, as an owner of a listed house in the same conservation area, were to paint a cross on the outside of my house I have no doubt that the council would take a very dim view.”
She advised Mr Kunkler to show his support for the Three Lions by flying the actual flag.
Mr Kunkler said that he expected his planning application to be turned down by the local authority.
“The colours have been on the pub since the 2022 World Cup and nobody has complained before,” he said.
“Then I got a letter as someone reported it to the council. I have a feeling it was somebody from London staying in an AirBnb here and they didn’t like it.”
In response to the objection raised by Ms Manley, the publican said: “There is no way this is racism. A lot of people I know are of different ethnic backgrounds.
“There is an Indian restaurant in Pewsey and they fly the Bandgladeshi flag from it with pride. That is what I am doing. I make a big thing of St George’s Day and back England in the Six Nations in rugby and at the World Cup in football.”
Cllr Adrian Foster, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management and Housing at Wiltshire Council said: “Following the investigation, the owner has been advised that the works do affect the building’s character as a structure of architectural or historic interest.
“In this situation, we have provided the opportunity to either remove or paint over the cross to return the property to its former appearance, alternatively, seek to secure retrospective Listed Building Consent.
“An application for Listed Building Consent has since been received from the owner of The Moonrakers Inn at 57 High Street in Pewsey. If the application is approved, the works will become lawful. If the application is refused, the council would consider the expediency of taking appropriate legal action.
“As the application has been made by a Wiltshire Councillor, if there are objections raising material planning considerations, the decision will be made by the relevant planning committee. Otherwise, the decision is likely to be delegated to officers”
