'Town's England flags don't offend us, we love them'

Turkish and Indian shop owners have said residents who complained about a Suffolk town being decorated in England flags are creating a "mountain out of a molehill".

Businesses and shopfronts in Framlingham have been covered with patriotic St George's and Suffolk flags, as well as red, white and blue bunting.

Put up by shop owner Bill Bulstrode, they will commemorate three events: the forthcoming Framlingham Gala Fest, the World Cup - and Suffolk Day on 21 June.

The town council has distanced itself from the flags after some residents suggested they were not inclusive, but shop owners told the BBC they did not see an issue and were happy to see them.

Nuri Ozmicco, who runs Zorbas kebab shop, moved to the UK from Turkey 26 years ago.

"They are not affecting anyone and I'm not offended by them," the 46-year-old said.

"It's good for business and I think people who live here like it, especially the children – I don't understand why some people are moaning, they've been doing it for years."

Ozmicco moved to the UK to work before starting a family and beginning a new life, living in various places across the county before eventually taking over the shop.

"I love Suffolk, but Framlingham especially. The people are very friendly, and it is just the best town," he said.

"I'm happy here and I am happy to see this flag, honestly, I don't mind and I love it."

Bunyamin Batkitar, also known as Benji, works in Pizza and Grill, in Framlingham. it was opened by his father, Garip Batkitar, 17 years ago after moving from Turkey.

He is from a Kurdish family which he said had "always been welcomed and supported" by the community in the town.

"Last year, they came into the shop and asked if it was okay to put a flag up and if we were comfortable with it, but it shouldn't even be a question to be honest," he said.

"I think they asked because they think we feel offended, but it is never a problem and should never be a problem - [the flag doesn't offend us] at all."

Batkitar added that the residents who had complained about the flags may have done so on behalf of people in the town who are of different nationalities.

"People might think that we have to accept it because we are the minority, but that is never the case," he added.

"It would be a lot better if everyone agreed that we live in England, the United Kingdom, Great Britain, under one flag."

Harry Singh, who was born in Ipswich but is of Indian heritage, said he had spent a lot of time in Framlingham over the years and always loved seeing the flags.

"I'm a Sikh guy, so I wear a turban and I've got a beard, but the flags make me feel patriotic," he said.

"I think 90% of people are happy to see them and, as long as they are used in the right way, then I can't see how you can be offended.

"I think there's a lot of people with nothing better to do who are trying to make something out of nothing – a mountain out of a molehill."

Singh, whose grandfather moved to the UK from India 55 years ago, runs Raja Stores in Ipswich, which he said he will decorate in England flags for the World Cup.

"Don't get me wrong, there are racial problems in all towns and cities, and I can see where people are coming from when they say the flag has been hijacked," he said.

"And I can see maybe how it could be a bit intimidating to people - but I'm quite happy to see the flags and, for us, the England flag is quite special."

Bulstrode has been decorating the town with flags since 2010 to mark various occasions and said they had never previously proved an issue.

For this year's display he was helped by local firefighters and people from a sports club, while the bunting was purchased by the council.

But the debate over whether St George's flags should be displayed in public places throughout the UK has intensified in the last 12 months.

Some people feel such flags have become synonymous with far-right groups and, therefore, are no longer inclusive and could offend other nationalities.

Hannah Barton, of Simpson's Sweets in Framlingham, said she too felt the flags had been "hijacked" but displays could help reclaim its positivity.

"It's a shame but in Framlingham it's just about making the town look great and we don't need to think any deeper than that really," she said.

"We shouldn't be ashamed of the flags, and we should be proud to have the [flag of] St George flying - if people are offended by it, then they're entitled to be.

"But I don't think the minority should dictate what happens in a town where the majority are really pleased that they're up and the town looks great."

Oliver Johnson, of Clark and Simpson solicitors, agreed the flags made the town look "fantastic" but appreciated that they had become a "contentious issue".

"The St. George's flag has been claimed by those associated with the far right and everything that goes with that, which is a shame," he said.

"But as a country I think we are very inclusive and I think [the display in the town] is a positive thing to celebrate - why not celebrate it for all the right reasons?

"The town council has to represent everyone in Framingham and we respect that completely, but perhaps it could have just been acknowledged and left alone."

The row over the town's flags was ignited after the town council - which has no power to remove the flags - issued a statement seemingly distancing itself from them.

It said its approach to public displays must be "consistent and considered" and the aim was to ensure the town was "welcoming, inclusive, and representative".

Clive Eastwood, the chair of Framlingham Town Council, said it was correct that businesses in the town were not "closed to any single point of view".

"It seems completely normal and right for all retail businesses to show themselves as welcoming and attractive," he said.

Speaking previously, Eastwood told the BBC that the council had received 10 complaints from residents about the flags.

Bulstrode said: "It hurts me that people have complained. I've given a lot of my time to Framlingham over the years, so I just get on with it.

"I've had so many people come in my shop over the last week and tell me how lovely Framlingham looks – there is nothing provocative about it at all."

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