Deal Town Council has celebrated flying the Union Flag from the town hall for the first time in five years.

After a Charter Day service at St Andrew’s Church in Deal High Street the congregation, including mayors from Dover, Hythe, Fordwich, Margate and Sevenoaks, retired to the town hall for refreshments and to see the flag raised from the building.

Having obtained listed building planning consent from Dover District Council, the flagpole itself was erected during the weekend beforehand.

It is mounted at a 45 degree angle close to the left hand window above the Undercroft, making the flag visible from both ends of the High Street.

Town Clerk Lorna Crow said: “Deal Town Council is delighted that the town hall is able to fly flags safely again as the old flag pole was decommissioned approximately five years ago due to safety reasons.”

Cllr Marlene Burnham added: “I think it’s wonderful that we have got it up now. There have been comments and it has been noticed.”

At the town council’s meeting on Monday, councillors agreed on the flag flying procedure.

They decided the flag will be flown 24 hours a day for a trial period of one month, rather than hoisted at 8am and taken down at sunset every day.

The procedure will be reviewed at the next full council meeting on November 18.

The flag will be changed only on United Nations Day and Commonwealth Day.

Cllr Eileen Rowbotham suggested changing the flag on more occasions.

She said: “I’d like to see a variety of flags flown. It would make the town more colourful.”

I’d like to see a variety of flags flown. It would make the town more colourful.'- Cllr Eileen Rowbotham

She suggested changing the flag on Trafalgar Day and perhaps investing in a Royal Marines flag for when the servicemen and women are in the town.

She added: “There’s an opportunity to ask people to sponsor the flag rather than use the town council’s budget.”

The council decided this could be an option if a second flag pole was put in place. In the mean time, the Union Flag takes priority.