Work will go ahead in the coming month to erect a flagpole outside Maison Dieu House after a long dispute on where it should be sited.

The town council received consent this week, allowing the flag to be positioned north-east from the war memorial.

Planners at Dover District Council (DDC) granted permission for the ground-based flag last month, but emphasised that Dover Town Council (DTC) look again at the siting of the pole, because the committee had concerns.

But the advice was not included in the permission letter, meaning the flag will go where permission was originally sought.

Campaigner Augusta Pearson, of Branch Street, said this is not what 4,500 people signed her petition for.

She said it will only decorate the council offices.

“Why completely disregard the strong recommendations from DDC not to place it there?”

Mrs Pearson created the petition last summer because she felt that Dover didn’t do enough to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

Cllr Peter Wallace, who is on the planning committee, said that the flag’s proposed location was “all wrong.”

He said: "I am worried about the position. I know three people who have been burgled along there."

'I am worried about the position. I know three people who have been burgled along there.' - Cllr Peter Wallace

Cllr Wallace also thought the public will disagree with having it hidden away in the corner.
He added: “I don’t think there’s any public support to have one in the corner, they want one that’s prominent.”

Cllr Pam Brivio said: “All I have quoted to Augusta is the contents of the letter received from DDC giving permission for the pole to be placed as per application made by DTC in December.

“A copy of the decision letter will be scanned and sent to her and hopefully she will accept that permission has been given for the flag pole to go according to DTC’s application. There is really nothing further I can say.”