Ecotricity, the UK’s pioneering green energy company, has today reaffirmed its commitment to fly the Palestinian flag at its Stroud headquarters, despite requests from Stroud District Council (SDC) to apply for planning permission.
Ecotricity intends to challenge the requirement for planning permission, arguing that the enforcement represents an unnecessary restriction and an inconsistency in the application of planning rules.
Mr Vince told Stroud Times: “We believe the council are wrong to claim this flag needs planning permission and we’d like to establish that for the benefit of others. And so we will not be removing the flag of Palestine from our building. Or applying for planning permission for it.
“Nobody ever got asked to take down a Ukrainian flag. With Palestine it’s different and much of this is due to a shadowy group of lawyers acting for Israel. They’ve bullied several councils into forcing the removal of flags and into event cancellations – it’s a pernicious stifling of free speech on behalf of a foreign power.”
The council has confirmed that the display of the flag is currently subject to a live planning enforcement investigation, stating: “The display of the unauthorised advertisement at Lion House is subject to a live planning enforcement investigation.
“We remain committed to applying planning regulations fairly and consistently, and we will provide guidance to anyone seeking clarification on advertisement consent requirements.”
