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A property tycoon has emerged victorious in his fight to fly a 100ft Union Flag from a former council building, despite initial attempts by officials to remove a smaller version. James Holmes, 51, stood his ground when his original flag was labelled a "large-format advertisement" and ordered to be taken down. The flag, emblazoned with a "Fly the Flag" slogan and QR code, was destroyed by Storm Amy earlier this month. Undeterred, Mr Holmes invested £2,500 in an even larger flag, this time devoid of any branding or slogans. In a surprising reversal, Chesterfield Borough Council, run by Labour , has now conceded, confirming that the gigantic Union Jack can remain. A council spokesperson acknowledged: "It's evident Mr Holmes is keen to recognise our national period of Remembrance, which we also value highly." They added, "The large Union Flag currently displayed does not breach any planning laws, so no enforcement action will be taken." This resolution follows months of disputes over flags hung on the former North East Derbyshire District Council HQ in Chesterfield. Mr Holmes, who has spent £15,000 on flags for this and other properties he owns, expressed relief at the council's change of heart. He stated: "I wouldn't have taken the flag down anyway but at least the council have seen some sense. "It demonstrates how they're wasting council taxpayers' money. "They work from home and don't know anything, they're useless. It shouldn't have got to this stage in the first place. "I never even saw it as being controversial, just encouraging people to fly the flag from the country they're from. The reason we've got problems in this country is that they're shaming people to keep their mouths shut. "I don't care, I'm prepared to stand up and see our flag fly like they do in other countries." The council has also announced plans to install a red poppy cascade on the Town Hall in time for Remembrance Day. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
