OFFICIALS have made moves to force the removal of a Union flag from a North Ayrshire seaside town following a complaint from a Scottish nationalist MP that it was an "eyesore".
A row has blown up over the actions taken over the British flag which has been in place 40 feet above a closed sports pub in the Main Street of Largs for nearly three years.
Planning officers began investigating after a complaint about the flag by the local SNP MP Patricia Gibson in August, last year and have now deemed the display as harmful to the look of the holiday resort.
It is understood the flag and pole was put up around the time of the last Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014, but officials say nobody is owning up to who was responsible.
The council says if nobody takes responsibility they will take action to remove the “incongruous” flagpole which does not have planning permission.
The action began after North Ayrshire and Arran MP wrote to the council's head of economic growth, Caitriona McAuley (corr) about the "flag at the Sheiling public house".
She said: "I have been contacted by a number of constituents, concerned at the positioning of a flag ...
"I understand that the flag in question is bolted to the public house's wall outside, and constituents have made me aware that it completely dominates the environs and is very intrusive on this busy public thoroughfare.
"I would appreciate if you could inform me whether North Ayrshire Council could expedite the removal of this huge flag on this very public thoroughfare. Is the flying of such a huge flag in such a location permitted without planning permission?"
North Ayrshire Council officers later told residents in flats nearby that the flagpole was unauthorised and that they were considering enforcement action to force its removal.
Officials told them that in any case planning permission would not be supported. But as the pole remained in place, planning officers pushed for enforcement action to have it removed under a council plan priority entitled: "Protecting and enhancing the environment for future generations."
Karen Yeomans, the council's economy and community executive director recommended taking direct action to force the removal of the flag and flagpole and seek any costs incurred from the landowner.
She said: “It is considered that the flagpole harms the visual amenity of the area by way of its high level siting, its prominence in the street scene, a main route into and out of the town centre, and its incongruous appearance on the host building.”
The flagpole was deemed to be contrary to a local planning policy which states that any development "should have regard to the relationship...to existing buildings and the visual effects... on the surrounding area and landscape". Its external appearance "should have regard to the locality in terms of style, fenestration, materials and colours".
But councillors said the property owner should be given the chance to submit a planning application for the pole first and that no action to force its removal be taken until a further update is provided.
The objections were led by the council's vice chairman of planning Tom Marshall, questioning Mrs Gibson's concerns about the flag.
He said: "The Union Flag is a national flag and anyone is entitled to fly it. It would only be an eyesore to a Scottish nationalist.
"If the flagpole had been flying a Saltire then Mrs Gibson would not have complained. I wonder if she will take action over the Saltires adorning some classrooms in Largs Academy?"
One local resident said he "could not believe it" when told that the flag had to go.
"The last time I checked, we are very much in Great Britain, at least for the time being. Does this mean every Union Jack should be removed because it is out of keeping? It doesn't make sense.
"It's been there for a few years now and I can't seen anything wrong with it. It looks fine to me, but then I voted to remain in the Union."
MP Patricia Gibson says she raised the matter after constituents "expressed concern that this flagpole and flag was an eyesore" on the Main Street.
"As I do with all constituent concerns, I made representations to the relevant body, in this case North Ayrshire Council," she said.
"The planning committee asked that a planning application for the flagpole be submitted.
"My view is, if the person responsible for the flag has been asked to submit a planning application then I would expect them to do so at the earliest opportunity."
A council spokesman said: “The council's planning committee has decided to give the owners of the flatted properties on the first and second floor one final opportunity to take action on the unauthorised flagpole, advising them to submit a planning application.
“It remains unclear who erected the flagpole in the first instance and whether the person/people involved still lives in the building. We will continue speaking with the residents but if nobody takes responsibility for the flagpole, and submits a retrospective planning application, we will look to take enforcement action and remove it ourselves.
"The flagpole harms the visual amenity of the area by its high level setting, its prominence in the streetscene – a main route into and out of the town centre – and its incongruous appearance on the host building.”
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