Picture from last night
I HAVE FORMALLY OBJECTED TO THE PALESTINIAN FLAG BEING FLOWN ON COLCHESTER TOWN HALL
I have sent a formal letter of objection early this morning to Councillor David King (Lib-Dem) leader of Colchester City Council concerning the decision to authorise flying the Palestinian flag on Colchester Town Hall today.
This is a flag which was waved by large numbers of cheering demonstrators in London and other cities immediately after the 7 October 2023 Hamas’ attack on Israel which murdered, raped and abducted more than 1,000 Israeli civilians including large numbers of women and children. See
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67110119
Thankfully Colchester has to date avoided any such sectarian demonstrations. However, I am appalled that Colchester City Council is now flying this flag which will be seen by many people as showing partisan, sectarian support for one side in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas who despite being a proscribed terrorist organisation have governed Gaza since 2007.
This is not only deeply contentious and likely to seriously damage community relations and community cohesion – with no obvious benefit to Colchester, it is also a clear breach of planning law – which prohibits the flying of anything other than a very restricted list of flags without prior “express consent from the local planning authority”.
The decision to fly this flag was a monumental failure of judgement by the political leadership of the council which can only risk inflaming community tensions in Colchester while bringing no positive benefits to the residents of Colchester.
I have urged the council leadership to immediately rescind the authorisation to fly this flag on Colchester Town Hall.
I HAVE FORMALLY OBJECTED TO THE PALESTINIAN FLAG BEING FLOWN ON COLCHESTER TOWN HALL
I have sent a formal letter of objection early this morning to Councillor David King (Lib-Dem) leader of Colchester City Council concerning the decision to authorise flying the Palestinian flag on Colchester Town Hall today.
This is a flag which was waved by large numbers of cheering demonstrators in London and other cities immediately after the 7 October 2023 Hamas’ attack on Israel which murdered, raped and abducted more than 1,000 Israeli civilians including large numbers of women and children. See
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67110119
Thankfully Colchester has to date avoided any such sectarian demonstrations. However, I am appalled that Colchester City Council is now flying this flag which will be seen by many people as showing partisan, sectarian support for one side in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas who despite being a proscribed terrorist organisation have governed Gaza since 2007.
This is not only deeply contentious and likely to seriously damage community relations and community cohesion – with no obvious benefit to Colchester, it is also a clear breach of planning law – which prohibits the flying of anything other than a very restricted list of flags without prior “express consent from the local planning authority”.
The decision to fly this flag was a monumental failure of judgement by the political leadership of the council which can only risk inflaming community tensions in Colchester while bringing no positive benefits to the residents of Colchester.
I have urged the council leadership to immediately rescind the authorisation to fly this flag on Colchester Town Hall.
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