Union flags are set to welcome visitors to Dorchester

12:30pm Saturday 26th May 2012 in Local News

Keir Francis, Alistair Chisholm, David Taylor, Phil Gordon and Peter Legg Keir Francis, Alistair Chisholm, David Taylor, Phil Gordon and Peter Legg

A FLURRY of flags will greet visitors to the county town as Dorchester prepares to welcome the world.

Union flags will be going up along High West Street and High East Street, with the first batch hoping to be installed in time for the Queen’s diamond jubilee weekend.

By the time visitors from all over the world descend on Dorset for the Olympic sailing events at Weymouth and Portland, it is hoped around 170 flags will be flying along the main route through Dorchester.

Local trader and town councillor David Taylor successfully applied for planning permission from West Dorset District Council to install brackets for the flags along High West Street and High East Street and replace or restore any existing brackets.

He explained that the scheme was a joint initiative from individuals and organisations in the town, including the Chamber of Commerce, Dorchester BID (Business Improvement District), Town Crier Alistair Chisholm and Shaun Hearn from the Hearn Group, which will be installing and restoring the flag brackets.

Councillor Taylor, manager of Owen and Simpson cook shop in Antelope Walk, said: “This is extremely good news when various parties of the town work together to achieve something.

“We have all come together to make sure it delivers and with the Jubilee running into the Olympic torch relay and then the Olympics it means Dorchester will shine. It’s a really positive message for the summer, saying to people: ‘Come and visit us and enjoy what Dorchester has to offer.’”

Comments(3)

Dorset Boy says...
1:37pm Sat 26 May 12

Can someone please tell the powers that be the only time the Union Flag can be called the Union Jack is when it is flown on the jackstaff, which is on the rear of the quarter deck, on a ship of the Royal Navy. The story behind it is when the navy was at war and if the battle flags were knocked of the main masts, then a substitute could be flown from the jack staff on the stern of the ship to signify that the ship was not surrendering to the enemy.

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Andrew_ says...
1:41am Thu 31 May 12

Some one has screwed a 1.5 meter flag pole with a union flag on it to the front of our office building on the High Street.

No permission was asked for or given at any time.

In the process they have obviously damaged brick work at the very least, possibly wood working and leading as well.

Are they really allowed to do this without getting permission from building owners?

Will they make good the damage and remove the pole afterwards? And if so when? Who should I send the bill to for doing it myself?

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ArthurDailey says...
9:09am Thu 31 May 12

They did the same to our home on the high street. What we don't like is that the Union Jack is a political statement, and we don't agree with the politics. Its like we are living in north Korea and being told we have to wave flags at Kim Jong Ill.

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