Contentious plan for flagpoles gets green light

Eighteen neighbours wrote to Havant Borough Council to object, concerned that the flapping flags could disturb Brent geese and other wildlife and would act at a scarecrow.

But, by a majority vote, councillors on the authority’s planning committee gave the green light to the bid.

Bellway homes made the application and the signs will be put up in Hawthorne Close, Hayling Island.

Leah Turner, a councillor for Hayling East, voted against the plan along with another councillor, but five voted in favour of the bid.

She said: ‘It was a very difficult position because the officers felt there was no valid reason to refuse it.

‘Residents were not happy and I was not happy myself.’

Cllr Turner was concerned as the eastern-most flag is on the boundary to the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Residents were concerned about the noise of wire ropes knocking against the flagpoles in the wind.

But the council was told the flags will not be noisy. Around 130 homes are being built at the fields in Mengham.