Pride group critical of council over flag decision

Stafford Pride has criticised Stafford Borough Council for not flying the rainbow flag over its headquarters

A row has broken out over a council’s decision not to fly the Pride flag over its headquarters.

Stafford Pride has criticised Stafford Borough Council for deciding not to display the rainbow flag at the civic centre.

Organisers also claimed the authority would not fly it outside the railway station, although the council said it offered to display the flag at the site during the town's inaugural Pride festival in August.

The council said it limited the use of flag flying above the civic centre and that it had offered considerable support to Stafford Pride for the upcoming event.

Council spokesman Will Conaghan said officers had given up a significant amount of time to help Stafford Pride chairman Jack Taylor “make Stafford Pride a great success”.

He said: “We are very disappointed that Mr Taylor has chosen to ignore and misrepresent the considerable amount of support the borough council has given him to stage the Pride event.”

Council 'sending a message'

In an open letter published on Facebook, signed by Stafford Pride founder Luke Bickley and Mr Taylor, the group expressed “deep disappointment” at the decision.

“We along with many others believe that it is essential for organisations to show their support for diversity and inclusion, during Pride month and especially at the inaugural event for the county town,” it said.

“By choosing not to fly the flag, Stafford Borough Council is sending a message that it does not value, prioritise or support the rights and wellbeing of its LGBTQ+ community across the area it serves, we truly hope this is not the case.”

The organisation called on the authority to reconsider its decision and to fly the Pride flag during the festival on 10 August.

Mr Conaghan said the council had offered support including flying the Pride flag on the poles outside the train station and in Victoria Park as well as putting up bunting on the high street and advertising the event, along with:

• Use of hundreds of free car parking spaces on the day, including for the events team

• Lighting up the Shire Hall

• Lighting up the trees in the Market Square

• Increasing cover in the CCTV room on the day of the event

• Providing use of the education room for free

• Providing litter pickers

• Waiving some of the costs of staging the event at Victoria Park

Mr Conaghan added that the authority respected tradition and that flag flying over the civic centre was limited to the Union, borough and mayoral flags as well as national flags on key dates.