“I know it feels nice Eric but unless you let go we just can’t hoist it…”

In his first real task as Planning Minister, Nick Boles signed The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 – the legislation which forms the mainstay of Mr Pickles crusade to champion flag-flying. You will be delighted to know that as of 12 October you will be able to fly a much wider range of flags from your flagstaff without the need to apply for a specific consent. Does your village have a flag? Do you happen to have the flag of the Black Country collecting dust in the attic (unlikely it was only adopted in July this year)? How about the flag of some obscure administrative area of some other random country? Well they can all go up no problem at all. Happy flying!