A PENSIONER whose Union Flag caused controversy has finally won his battle.
Brian Fairfield, 80, says he can fly his flag without worry after a meeting with his landlords.
Mr Fairfield was first contacted by Sanctuary Housing last month when neighbours complained about the flag in his back garden.
The ex-serviceman said he was within his rights to fly it, but was happy to come to a compromise.
After a visit to his west Hull home on Friday, Sanctuary Housing will now be writing to the people who complained to explain no action will be taken.
Mr Fairfield said: "When the housing officer and her line manager from Sanctuary visited, they said they couldn't find anything wrong with the flag at all.
"Since their visit on Friday, I've been flying the flag and haven't heard a peep out of anyone.
"My immediate neighbours never had a problem anyway.
"In fact, Kev next door comes out to salute it when I raise it."
Mr Fairfield, who lives in Impala Way, was contacted by Sanctuary and told neighbours had complained it was an eyesore that made too much noise just a few days after he started flying the flag in April.
As a compromise, Mr Fairfield agreed to lower the pole from 18ft to 14ft, change the material of the flag, and only have it flying from 10am to 6pm.
He said: "Sanctuary said on their visit they had no concerns and that I was well within my rights to fly it.
"One complaint was someone could see it while watching TV but they tried it in my lounge and couldn't see the flag.
"After the meeting, they said they were very happy about the flag, acknowledged that it was my right to fly it anyway, and said they would be writing to the people who complained to say the matter was over."
In English law, national flags can be flown on private property.
However, other flags such as those advertising a business, need planning permission.
Mr Fairfield said: "I am very happy now that this matter can finally be laid to rest.
"I never intended for the flag to cause any problems but, then again, I also wanted to prove my point.
"I think all the fuss it caused was completely unnecessary."
Sanctuary Housing said they were pleased the matter had been resolved.
John Hanson, local head of housing operations, said: "Mr and Mrs Fairfield spoke to some of their neighbours and have offered a number of concessions to address the concerns raised.
"We are writing to our other residents to keep them up-to-date with the situation and we want to thank the Fairfields for making every effort to be considerate and reasonable."
Since the Mail's first story about Mr Fairfield on April 30, his story has been published around the world and has reached as far as the US and Canada.
It was also the subject of an online campaign, as someone set up a Facebook page called "Let Brian Fairfield's Flag Fly".
Mr Fairfield said: "Without the Mail, I think I would have still been fighting this battle and would have been going back and forth forever.
"I'm glad to see an end to all this now."
