Council decision due on Kinghorn flag-bearer

Andy Davies, who owns Archway Metals, put up his Saltire-bearing figure, which has no planning permission, on the rooftop of his business earlier this summer.

But after a single complaint was made about it to the local authority, Fife Council investigated and Mr Davies was then asked to take it down.

However, he has received a lot of support from the local community to save his steel statue after a petition (currently signed by 2695 people) was drawn up demanding the popular statue remain.

Resident John Mallin, who started the petition, said: “A local blacksmith has made a statue to hold a Scottish flag and installed it above his workshop, but council officials have told him he has 28 days to remove it. I think this is wrong as he spent time and effort making it and many locals admire what has been done.”

In mid-June Andy intended to submit a planning application in the hope the local authority would give his flag-bearer the thumbs up. But this week, the patriotic blacksmith said it was looking unlikely he would be allowed to keep the flagbearer on the rooftop.

Andy said: “We are still awaiting a final decision from Fife Council but it’s looking like we may have to remove the flag-bearer as it fails to meet three different planning rules and regulations from three different departments: listed buildings, conservation area and general planning. So at present it looks like a piece of artwork from Kinghorn will be lost.”

Fife Council has confirmed that it hopes to have a response for Mr Davies within the next week.