So far during our journey St. George is definitely winning the popularity stakes. However, entering Cheshire yesterday, the reverse seems to be true. The citizens of this leafy (and wealthy) county are flying the Union Jack with pride, especially in the village of Audlem where the flag appeared to be flying outside every other house.

 

It’s even flying above my head as I write this post from our campsite outside Nether Alderley. (Please no wisecracks about my ability at parking! It was the only pitch left on the site).

 

The same cannot be said for Cheshire residents David and Ellen Stephenson who have flown a St. George’s flag at their home in Rochester Crescent, Crewe for more than eight years. The couple were featured on page 2 of yesterday’s Crewe Chronicle under the headline “National Pride? You’ll need to get permission for that…”

 

As Chronicle journalist Antonia Merola writes, “A patriotic Crewe couple have been told have have to apply for advertising consent to continue flying an England flag in their back garden.

In April the couple were sold an unofficial St. George’s flag with ‘England’ written across it and decided to put it up. 

The couple have now received a letter from Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council planning chiefs stating someone had queried whether their flag was breaking council rules. The letter advise them that, under the Town & Country Advertising Regulations 2007, flags are under the definition of ‘advertisement’ and because it was not the official national flag, they would require advertising consent.

David, 59, said: ‘We have been here 23 years and love coming back from holiday and seeing our flag flying as we drive up the road. What is the world coming to if you can’t have some price in your own nation?’

The couple have returned to flying an official St. George’s flag.”

 

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm and is filed under ENGLISHNESS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.