A band parade in September led to a “proliferation” of Union flags in a Co Tyrone village, a councillor has claimed.
Ruairi McHugh said flags had been erected in Castlederg without the consent of all in the community.
He voiced concerns at the matter at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane Council.
The Sinn Féin councillor said the recent opening of play facilities at Castle Park, as well as the opening of phase one of the regeneration of the Diamond area, had led to a “feel-good factor” in the town.
However, he said the Union flags, which were left throughout Castlederg following the band parade two months ago, were disrespectful to the nationalist community and business owners who have had flags placed outside their businesses without their consent.
“It’s also disrespectful to those people within the unionist community themselves who don’t want to see their flag flying from lamp posts,” Mr McHugh argued. “So these flags need to come down”.
“I’m not raising this in an effort to curtail anybody’s rights or traditions, if people want to have a parade that’s well and good, but it’s only reasonable to ask that [flags] then be taken down in an acceptable time frame.
“We have our Christmas light switch on coming up next week and want our town centre to be a welcoming environment so I call on [parade organisers], who have availed of Good Relations funding form this council, to think about the impact those flags are having on good relations, have some common sense, and take the flags down now.”