A LANDLADY who was forced to remove the St George’s Cross from outside her pub after a council incorrectly labelled it an advert can now fly her flags with pride.

Yesterday (Tuesday, July 30), The Northern Echo revealed how Margaret Cooper, of the Golden Lion Inn in Sedgefield, County Durham, was told to remove two English flags from outside her pub until planning consent was secured.

In a letter specifically referring to the flags, Durham County Council informed the patriotic publican that the flags constituted an advertising display under the Town and County Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 and the Town and County Planning Act 1990.

However, the council has been forced to backtrack as the advice it issued to Mrs Cooper was incorrect.

For while there are strict planning controls in place for commercial flags, national flags, including the St George’s Cross, can be flown without consent.

Mrs Cooper, who last displayed the flags to celebrate the birth of the royal baby, said she was pleased the situation had been resolved.

“I just wish they had checked their facts before causing all this fuss,” she added.

Stuart Timmiss, Durham County Council’s head of planning and assets, said the council had received numerous complaints about unauthorised advert being displayed outside pubs in Sedgefield, an important conservation area.

“Unfortunately the flags have become mixed up in the debate,” he said.

“However, we have spoken with the landlords of the Golden Lion to clarify the position and advised them that the flags can continue to fly.”