A planning application has been submitted by the town council to erect a six metre glass fibre flagpole to the right of Maison Dieu House.

It was put forward to Dover District Council on December 16 last year to gain permission from planning officers to erect the pole in the far corner.

This comes after campaigner Augusta Pearson collected more than 4,000 signatures for a Union Flag to be erected behind the war memorial which stands central in the memorial gardens.

Mrs Pearson, of Branch Street, felt the town did not do enough to mark the centenary of the First World War.

The application has been criticised by some residents who do not agree with its siting.

Objector Lynda Mackintosh said: “I wish to object to the siting of the flag pole, the position chosen is completely wrong.

“While I wholeheartedly support the idea of a Union Flag flying at the memorial, to site it in such a place is not what we asked for. We would like it situated to the right of the memorial in the garden – elsewhere completely misses the point.

The application states that the flag will be south-west facing – meaning that it will be positioned to the right of the town council offices.

Bernie Mayall who supported Augusta Pearson in her campaign has written to the district council.

She said: “I believe the placement may encourage bad behaviour such as climbing the wall to gain entry to the adjacent flat-roofed premises, and may interfere with bicycle parking and benches.”

'I believe the placement may encourage bad behaviour' - resident Bernie Mayall

Eric Bowden has also written a letter, stating that he feels the positioning of the flag in the corner shows a “lack of respect to the many fallen warriors who paid the price of defending that flag.”

Speaking to the Mercury in December, Mrs Pearson said: “I am delighted that it has finally got this far although I am not sure about the position.”