Express & Star

Wolverhampton Council rejects Black Country flag calls

Wolverhampton Council has rejected calls to give the Black Country flag a permanent home at the city's Civic Centre.

Published
Councillor Roger Lawrence (left) with the Black Country flag outside the Civic Centre

Tory councillors have called for the iconic flag to be flown 365 days a year from the council's offices.

But the authority's Labour leader Roger Lawrence says doing so would diminish the impact of "significant events" when the flag is flown.

Conservative councillor Paul Singh has submitted a motion calling on the city to "embrace the flag as a symbol of pride". It will be debated at a full council meeting at the end of the month.

Mr Lawrence said: “We are proud to fly a number of different flags at the Civic Centre throughout the year in support of local, national and international campaigns and events.

“This includes proudly supporting Black Country Day each year by flying the Black Country flag outside the Civic Centre on July 14, as do the three other Black Country councils.

“In addition to this, we will also fly the Black Country flag in recognition of significant events in the local area, for instance the tragic death of leader of Sandwell Council in 2016, when the flag was flown at half-mast.

"The impact of this gesture would have been diminished if the flag were to be flown permanently.

“We fly flags for limited periods of time in order to have the maximum impact and to ensure we are able to commemorate as many special events as possible.”

Mr Singh, who represents Penn ward, said flying the flag "day and night" outside the council's offices would show the council had embraced the region's proud heritage.

Government Minister Jake Berry has ordered civil servants to draft guidance to local authorities on promoting community pride and flying flags, in a bid to encourage people to discover more about their local history.