Man with Union flag has been forced to remove it
A veteran of the Gulf War has been told to stop flying the Union flag from a pole in his garden after a neighbour allegedly reported it as a "nuisance" to the estate's developers.
Andrew Smith, 51, hoisted the £3 flag after serving six years (1988 - 1994) in the Royal Signals - but has been ordered to take it down.
Andrew says he got a letter from Harron Homes warning of legal action if he refused to remove it. The dad-of-two has so far complied but says he will fight back.
Andrew told The Sun: "I think it's the flag as it's the first thing he {the neighbour} mentioned, he said to me 'I hope you're taking the flag down, it's spoiling our view.'
"I can't see why a Union Jack flag is offensive. Why would you be offended by patriotism?
"We have become soft and don't want to upset other people, whereas I have done my bit for my country and I'm proud to be British.
"I went to war for my country. It's something close to my heart and every morning I feel like saluting it. We are becoming weak and spineless. Who are they to tell me not to fly the flag?"
Mr Smith moved into the property in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire., with his wife Trigania, 28, in October 2018. The couple previously lived in Chilwell, Notts., where Andrew says he flew the flag without incident for a decade.
Reflecting on the time before the flag pole was erected Andrew added: "It's a covenant garden, whatever I signed when I bought the house said I wasn't allowed to do anything that causes a nuisance or annoyance.
"I asked on a Facebook group 'is this going to offend anyone, I'm proud to serve?'.
"People said 'go for it. I got 31 love heart emojis, 20 thumbs up and 70 positive comments.
"Then I got a knock at the door from a neighbour round the back who said 'we don't like that, are you going to take it down?'.
"They probably knocked on the door around 20 times over the next three days but I just ignored it.
"Then we got a letter from Harron Homes saying they had been instructed by a solicitor that I have to take the flagpole down because it's causing a nuisance."
