EU flag-flying fee to be re-examined by council
by MA Reporter
A council that told a licensee he'd have to pay £220 to fly the European Union flag is to reconsider its policy after the Morning Advertiser intervened.
Worthing Borough Council told licensee Dave Edwards of the Rose & Crown that the fee would cover his application for permission to continue to display the flag. But the policy is to be reviewed after officers questioned whether pursuing such matters was "in taxpayers' interests". A report is to be prepared for councillors to consider.
Edwards said: "It's great if some common sense is creeping in here. It's absolutely ridiculous to charge pubs just for flying a flag. We get a lot of visitors from Europe and we're just trying to make them feel welcome."
A council insider said: "We can see how this does look ridiculous, and we will look at it again." The authority acted after a local resident complained that the EU flag had caused offence, dubbing it the icon of a "totalitarian foreign power". The insider added: "He can fly the French, German, Belgian, Spanish and all the flags of the EU member states he just can't fly the EU flag under our current rules."
As camera crews gathered at the pub to interview the Rose & Crown licensee, neighbouring local authorities sought to steer clear of the imbroglio.
A spokesman for Brighton & Hove council said: "This is a Worthing problem. We wouldn't comment."
Many UK pubs fly the EU flag as a goodwill gesture to tourists from Europe. British Tourist Board press officer Elliott Frisby said: "I have never come across anything like this before."
