Local residents are voicing their displeasure after a neighbor decided to paint a large Union Jack across the front of his house as a “quiet protest” opposing illegal immigration.
Simon Brocklehurst dedicated 12 hours to covering his four-bedroom terraced home with the massive flag, causing concerns among nearby residents that this might cause property values on their street to decline.
The 41-year-old welder took this patriotic step following an incident where his neighbors in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, removed a St George’s cross he displayed in his front yard.
Mr Brocklehurst admits his response has seen him become ‘public enemy number one’ but insists he’s mainly received praise for his display.
The father-of-three said: ‘It started off as a St George’s cross but my intention was always to turn it into the Union Flag.
“I don’t believe it will significantly affect property prices. There’s an abandoned pub and a run-down house just a few doors away, which are likely to have more influence on property values,” he stated.
‘And even if it has, I’m not planning on moving anywhere. I’ve lived here since I was five years old. It’s just a quick paint job anyway.
‘All I’m doing is trying to bring a bit if hope. If it makes one person smile and feel patriotic, then I’ve done my job.’
The display of the enormous flag on his four-bedroom home has led to worries among locals that it might decrease property values in the neighborhood.
Mr Brocklehurst admits his response has seen him become ‘public enemy number one’ but insists he’s mainly received praise for his display
This act of patriotism was Mr. Brocklehurst’s response when neighbors on the street in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, took down the St George’s cross he had installed in front of his house.
However, some locals have said they worry the ‘garish’ red, white and blue paint-job would now devalue their own homes if they wanted to sell up.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘It just sticks out like a sore thumb doesn’t it? I don’t know what he’s thinking really.
‘It is going to lower hour prices along the street, who would want to live by that, it’s a bit of a garish mess.
‘It looks really out of place, it’s a shame.
‘I don’t have a strong opinion one way or another about all this flag flying – but I know they don’t belong plastered all over the front of your house..’
However, another neighbour disagreed and added: ‘We think it looks great and brightens up the area. I don’t know why people are moaning.’
Mr Brocklehurst first painted the St George’s cross on the front of his home last week after having his England flag ripped down by disgruntled neighbours.
But he transformed it into a Union Flag over three days this week as part of a ‘peaceful protest’ without joining anti-illegal immigration marches.
Some locals have said they worry the ‘garish’ red, white and blue paint-job would now devalue their own homes if they wanted to sell up.
Mr Brocklehurst said he painted the Union Flag on his house over three days this week as part of a ‘peaceful protest’ without joining anti-illegal immigration marches
He said: ‘I don’t think anybody can be offended by a flag really.
‘I do support the Raise the Colours movement and I would have gone to the protest in London but I decided to do my own quiet protest here.
‘All the hate appears to be coming from social media Facebook warriors but in real life I’ve had no complaints and experienced mainly positive comments.
‘There’s been a couple of people saying negative things in person but mainly everybody loves it as far as I can tell.
‘I didn’t expect to get all the abuse online, but people are entitled to their opinions. I’m public enemy number one at the moment.
‘But without this flag you wouldn’t have freedom of speech, so I respect their right to say what they want about it.
‘I have no plans to paint over it, it will stay like this until somebody orders me to remove it.
‘But this is my house and this is how I’ve decided to paint it. It’s a sign of being proud of the country where I am from.’
