FLAG-waving onlookers lined the route this afternoon for a motorcycle cavalcade in the town where a Tory council took down Saltires.
Yes Bikers made for Coldstream in the Scottish Borders in protest at the local authority's decision to remove six Scots standards from the high street.
On Wednesday The National revealed how local businessman David Shepherd had been ordered to take down the blue-and-white display following a single complaint.
Shepherd said: “I’ve done it in previous years without complaint and there’s been no issues. I’ve never heard a negative comment before.”
Today members of the Yes Bikers group had their own flags in place as they rode through the town to oppose the move.
Yes banners and Lion Rampants were also taken along by those backing the socially-distanced demonstration, with around 60 motorcycles taking part.
The scene was captured by Radio Borders News.
Yes Bikers chairman Jim Brown, an SNP councillor on the Tory-led local authority, said: "I doubt it'll have much affect on the Conservative-led administration but I do like to think that if there was an application for these flags to be reinstated, I hope that the planning department would look favourably upon that."
Signmaker Shepherd was amongst those at the event. He said he'd been using the flags as "a mark of Scotland", adding: "People come over the border, they see the flags, they know they're in Scotland. They love to see them, it's great colour for the town and all the tourists stop and take photographs."
Some colourful scenes in #Coldstream this afternoon... @YesBikers pic.twitter.com/8WcrCR2lKn
— Radio Borders News (@yourbordersnews) September 13, 2020
Last week Scottish Borders Council 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.”
Welcoming today's move, South Scotland MSP Paul Wheelhouse — the country's Energy Minister — tweeted: "Well done to Yes Bikers for drawing attention to an odd decision by a Tory Council - the Saltire is one of oldest flags in the world, Coldstream and [the River] Tweed mark our border and the [Saltires] added a great splash of colour to town, helping attract tourists. Hope there’s a rethink."
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