Flags flying from private homes may need consent

COUNCIL LOOKING AT THEIR POLICY ON FLYING FLAGS

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

RESIDENTS of Plymouth will have to get consent for flying flags from their own property in the new year if they don’t meet strict criteria.

Plymouth City Council is planning to introduce a policy for flag flying which “celebrates the diversity of the city whilst staying true to traditions”.

It sets out how and when the city will fly flags and light up landmark buildings for commemorations and celebrations and includes a new process for members of the public who request for flags to be flown from a civic or council-owned flagpole.

But consent will also be needed if anyone wants to fly a flag at home that is not on the council's list of flags.

Included in the list are any country’s national flag, the NHS flag, Commonwealth or United Nations flags, patron saint flags and His Majesty's forces flags among others.

The draft policy will be considered by the council’s housing and community services scrutiny panel on December 10.

A report to the panel says: “The council respects everyone's individual liberty to fly their flags on their own property.

“Any flag not identified or covered in list 1 or 2 requires express consent from the local planning authority before it can be flown.