Residents angered as flags are put up in development

The woman, a Protestant who lives in the Oaklee Homes development, said that all residnets had signed a contract agreeing not to to put up flags.

“When I first moved into this development I had to sign a contract with them,” she said. “I am a Protestant myself and we do not want any flags or emblems here. By signing the contract I knew that I would not be allowed to put up a flag nor would any of my neighbours.

“A group of young fellows, around 15 of them, came in here around 11.30pm and started putting flags up on every lamp post. A group of residents told them not to and took them down.

“People do not want them here,” she said.

“We don’t care what you are; Jew, Hindu, everyone has the right to live in peace and harmony without all these flags going up.

“Some women from the residents group when they saw them being put up got ladders and took them down again,

“If the flags are put up we will take them back down again. We don’t want anything like that here. We are Protestants and Catholics living in an area and we have to respect each others views and beliefs.”

A spokesperson for Oaklee Homes Group said, “Since the first Oaklee tenants moved into the newly refurbished houses in June 2009, all residents in Pond Park have agreed to being involved in the concept of Shared Future Housing.

“Oaklee supports resident involvement in the management of their shared community and we will continue to promote the concept of Shared Future Housing, including finding a Community Perspective on good practice with regard to flags, emblems and sectional symbols.

“Oaklee Homes Group will engage with the PSNI and local residents, including members of the Pond Park Community Group, to clearly establish the circumstances relating to flags which were erected within the Pond Park estate on Monday, July 2.”