THE Tory leader of Scottish Borders Council and a local Conservative MP have both lambasted a controversial decision to order the removal of six Saltires from Coldstream town centre.

It comes as a petition demanding the reinstatement of the flags attracted more than 400 signatures after The National story went viral.

Councillor Shona Haslam, who leads the Conservative-led administration, said the decision was made by staff without consulting councillors and was poorly communicated to residents.

Borders MP John Lamont, who lives across the road from where the flags usually fly, has also criticised the decision and said the first he knew about it was when reading the exclusive in The National. He said: “The first I heard about this situation was when I read about it in a newspaper. Volunteers work very hard to make Coldstream an attractive place for tourists and other people to stop. I know that the flags are part of that.

“I am certainly very proud of the Saltire whenever I see it being flown. I have contacted Scottish Borders Council to request more information about this situation. I hope that a sensible solution can be found.”

READ MORE: Fury as Tories order for Saltires to be removed from Scottish high street

The local authority said the removal was ordered this week because the flags were attached to council property with no prior permission. They had been flown in the same place for around seven years on and off without any complaints or issues, and have been popular among tourists who arrive in the “first true border toon” as they cross the Border at Coldstream Bridge over the River Tweed.

Fixed to high street railings at the entrance to Henderson Park, they were erected by local businessman David Shepherd at his own cost when the Queen’s baton arrived in Scotland ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He has flown as many as 11 flags from the same spot most summers since then, adding a splash of colour to the town centre. But the local authority this week ordered him to remove them five weeks after they were put up to mark the town’s annual civic week.

It prompted a furious backlash from residents and the anger has gone viral. A sizeable proportion of the town’s 1900 residents are English, and they have been just as appalled by the decision as the resident Scots.

All Under One Banner, which organises pro-independence marches and rallies, says it is “assessing” the holding of a large rally in the town before the end of the year. The group posted online: “Due to recent events at Coldstream, we are now assessing the holding of a sizeable static-rally for independence in the town before the year is out.”

Haslam said of the removal: “This was a decision taken by officers in the council without consultation with myself or local councillors.

“It was a poor decision that was badly communicated with the community. The Saltire does not belong to any one political group and it is wrong that this issue has turned into a political one.

“I am sure that we can find a way of ensuring that the flag will fly again in Coldstream for the next civic week and I would welcome a conversation with those involved to ensure that that happens.”

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “These flags were erected/attached to council property with no prior permission. The council has therefore contacted the person involved and asked for them to be removed.

“Whilst these may have been erected in this location in previous years to mark Coldstream Civic Week, this year they have remained in place for over a month.

“As a result of a recent enquiry to the council we have taken the action.

“This decision was taken by officers and is solely related to these items being on council property and is in no way related to the type of flag being flown.

“It is worth noting that Scottish Borders Council flies the saltire from its headquarters in Newtown St Boswells on a daily basis.”