Union Flags Return to Street High Street for 11 Days

The flags are coming back.

Street Parish Council, which governs the largest village in Somerset, has voted to replace its current banners with Union Flags. The new display will remain in place until the festive lights are installed. That installation is scheduled for completion by mid-November 2026.

The council first removed the Union Flags last month. The minutes from the September 15 full council meeting show a resolution to swap them for Shoemakers Museum flags. The document did not list a specific reason for the change. It contained no further reference to the discussion.

Residents reacted quickly to the removal. An online petition asked the council to reinstate the banners as soon as possible. The petition specifically requested that the flags stay up through the Remembrance period.

Bryan Knickerbocker, a Liberal Democrat parish councillor who was absent during the September vote, criticized his colleagues. He posted a statement on Facebook claiming the group had "got it wrong." In an open letter, he argued that the banners had been welcomed by many locals. He wrote that taking them down created more division. He stated, "If there is concern that the Union Jack is being hijacked by those with extreme views, I do not believe is for the rest of us to surrender it to them."

The council responded to the public outcry. A spokesperson acknowledged the "upset and division" the changes caused. The statement noted that the high street has historically marked Remembrance with poppies rather than Union Flags. The council said it had not traditionally used those specific banners for the Battle of Britain or the Remembrance Parade.

Following an extraordinary meeting on October 6, the council decided to listen to residents. It confirmed the Union Flag banners will replace the current ones for the upcoming period. The parade will take place on November 8, 2026. The banners will stay up until the festive lights are ready in mid-November.

The council plans to develop a new policy for banners and flags. This policy aims to provide greater clarity for future decisions. It will consider local heritage and national commemorations. The statement concluded that the council remains committed to an open and democratic process.