You may be interested in the complaint shown below about the flag on the Datchet Green flagpole that was received by Datchet Parish Council on 19 October 2026.
Subject: Urgent issue: St George’s flag on the Green
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to formally raise a concern and disappointment in the decision to install the St George’s flag on the village green. Given the well documented tension and division experienced within Datchet over the past year, this decision feels particularly insensitive. Whilst the flag can be viewed as a symbol of national pride and Christianity it has also recently been used to in a manner to intimidate. Concerns about the flags being weaponised to create division were previously raised by many Datchet residents, when on the lamp post, but no action was taken. Though it is understood that this was not within the parish council’s remit, against that backdrop, placing the flag prominently in the centre of the communal greens send a troubling message.
In addition, the conversation I had with a council member gave a worrying view into the “inclusive” thought process of council decisions. Yes it is understood that this is a Christian country, that is not the issue with the St George’s flag, but to deny it’s recent misuse of it to elicited attacks on minorities within Datchet and what it has come to symbolise to many within Datchet is shocking. If you would like to understand that point of view more, I am happy to hold a session with the council. If this was a decision made many years ago, again, that decision should have been reviewed in light of the past year.
Please do not view this as an attack on Britishness or Christianity, it is not and to take that stance is very worrying. The Union Jack flag would have been a great decision to show national/Christian pride whilst maintaining inclusivity.
I look forward to hearing from you.
[Sender unknown]