Shop owner defends decorating town with England flags

An independent shop owner has defended his decision to decorate a town with flags after a council said it had been inundated with a "raft" of complaints from residents.

Bill Bulstrode, who runs Bulstrodes & Framlingham Toy Shop, in Framlingham, Suffolk, put up St George's and Suffolk flags, as well as red, white and blue bunting.

He told the BBC the flags were to mark the forthcoming Framlingham Gala Fest later this month, the World Cup, which starts on 11 June, and Suffolk Day, which is celebrated on 21 June.

Bulstrode said that flags "had been flying" in the town since 2010, but Framlingham Town Council said the most recent displays had become "a very divisive issue".

"I've had so much support from people telling me to leave the flags up because they look absolutely amazing through the town and social media is full of it," he said.

"I think it is a very small minority [of people complaining] and it is due to what's been happening in the world, which is an upset place at the moment.

"But we've had England and St George's flags flying before, and I've got nothing against them, and I am proud to be English, so end of story."

Mark Scholl, who owns Leo's Deli in the town, said he really liked the flags and that they were "great" but said it might be wise to be "careful in these sensitive times".

"Regardless of the rights or wrongs, there is a duality of meaning in the St George's flag and so maybe we should include other types of flags that don't have that," he said.

"Obviously, that's really difficult because everything has got connotations, and I know there is lots of controversy around that.

"But it is, unfortunately, a fact that people do get put off by certain flags in the town and I'd hate somebody to just drive through and not stop."

The debate over whether the flag of St George's, as well Union Jack flags, should be displayed in public places across the UK has been taking place over the last 12 months.

While some believe they represent a show of respect for the country, others feel the flags have become too associated with far-right groups and now have negative connotations.

Clive Eastwood, the chair of Framlingham Town Council, said the flags were "obviously a very divisive issue at the moment", but added the council did not have the power to remove the flags.

"We got a raft of emails on Tuesday from people complaining about the flags, but as a town council we don't have a view on them, we're neutral," he said.

"We haven't taken any action because we haven't discussed them as a town council and we have no authority to take them down, even if we wanted to."

After being made aware of residents' concerns, the town council said it spoke with Bulstrode and posted a statement on social media distancing itself from the flags.

Bulstrode told the BBC that he had not spoken with the council since Tuesday.

The authority said it wanted to "explore a more coordinated and balanced approach to flag displays across Framlingham".

"The aim is to ensure the town presents a welcoming, inclusive, and representative environment for all residents and visitors, while maintaining a consistent and considered approach to public displays," a town council spokesperson said.

"The council would like to clarify that it has approved and supports the bunting and the Swift flag currently flying on Market Hill.

"These were arranged as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the town environment in a way that reflects Framlingham's heritage and community identity."

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