Patriotic gran wins fight against council over flying the Union flag

[AgnesIO]

Perfectly reasonable council decision. Allotments are rented to people to grow vegetables, not stick up flagpoles. She should put a flag in her front garden if she wants one.

[Earthquake]

when your criticized for flying your own flag in your own country then there is a huge problem in politics.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Perfectly reasonable council decision. Allotments are rented to people to grow vegetables, not stick up flagpoles. She should put a flag in her front garden if she wants one.

The council reversed its decision after it realised how stupid it looked in the eyes of the general public.

The job of the council is to empty the bins and clean the streets, something it struggles to do, not persecute a old ladies for flying their national flag.

[AgnesIO]

The council reversed its decision after it realised how stupid it looked in the eyes of the general public.

The job of the council is to empty the bins and clean the streets, something it struggles to do, not persecute a old ladies for flying their national flag.

The job of the council is also to maintain its land. Allotments are for vegetables, not giant flag poles. What if the old lady decided to build a house on her allotment and paint the roof the colours of the Union Flag? Would that be fine? No.

[GommeInc]

Ehhhh, you still have a right to a flag-pole (Unless it violates planning laws), but I also have a right to think people who have one are prats and people who fly political flags are *****.

Pretty much my view. She deserved to win as you are allowed to be patriotic and from what I can see she is flying the flag on her rented bit of property from the council on the allotment, so the council cannot really do anything against her as a flag pole is not permanent. It is rented, rather than lent to her by the council. Big difference mostly on technicalities.

Personally I wouldn't dare fly a Union flag as I see no reason (myself) to be patriotic. I save it for official buildings, not my garden as it assumed I am indeed British and on British soil.

[AgnesIO]

Pretty much my view. She deserved to win as you are allowed to be patriotic and from what I can see she is flying the flag on her rented bit of property from the council on the allotment, so the council cannot really do anything against her as a flag pole is not permanent. It is rented, rather than lent to her by the council. Big difference mostly on technicalities.

Personally I wouldn't dare fly a Union flag as I see no reason (myself) to be patriotic. I save it for official buildings, not my garden as it assumed I am indeed British and on British soil.

This is incorrect. They can attach any rules to their £30 a year rental agreement that they like.

[GommeInc]

This is incorrect. They can attach any rules to their £30 a year rental agreement that they like.

They can very well do so, but if they failed to do it before the contract she can do whatever she wishes within reason (council by-laws etc). If they suddenly made a rule out of thin air they are and would be in the wrong by being in breach of contract - and seeing as no council in the country will have a by-law saying patriotism is banned for obvious reasons, she would be safe irrespective of adding rules to the agreement.

[AgnesIO]

They can very well do so, but if they failed to do it before the contract she can do whatever she wishes within reason (council by-laws etc). If they suddenly made a rule out of thin air they are and would be in the wrong by being in breach of contract - and seeing as no council in the country will have a by-law saying patriotism is banned for obvious reasons, she would be safe irrespective of adding rules to the agreement.

How about the contract stating the allotments are solely for fruit and vegetables? That isn't exactly an unexpected requirement of an allotment....

You are making giant assumptions that are wholly unlikely.

[GommeInc]

How about the contract stating the allotments are solely for fruit and vegetables? That isn't exactly an unexpected requirement of an allotment....

You are making giant assumptions that are wholly unlikely.

Clearly not as she won her case, otherwise she would be banned or it would be removed. They're not assumptions as they're common practice with allotments - it's why she won her case.

Allotments are not solely for fruit and vegetables. If a council were to write rules to that effects allotees wouldn't be allowed to have tools, sheds, ornaments (which flag poles are - and they're not permanent) and so forth. No council is daft enough to place such solid, stringent rules as they would be impractical. You are renting a plot of land after all, it isn't that different to renting a house in principle, except you must use it for its intended purpose (as you mentioned - growing fruit and vegetables). Those renting are allowed to personalise their allotments.

[Chippiewill]

It's kinda a tough line about whether the council would have to explicitly ban something, like should they have to say you can't just pour petrol all over your allotment?

In the context of an allotment a flag-pole is not necessary and can have a detrimental effect on others (e.g. by casting a shadow), simultaneously the land is only rented and displaying a political flag could violate laws on advertising.