From the Halesowen News

Halesowen after deciding to have themselves a town flag held a competition which was duly won by

student Reece O'Toole

However a row has since erupted when Philip Tibbets wrote in to complain that the flag would remain unregistered and unusable saying "When I was first brought before the committee with my idea for a Halesowen flag I mentioned the UK Flag Institute but this advice was ignored. The Institute would have, for free, ensured the good design criteria were included in the initial request for submissions. Had this have been done I am sure the designers would have been up to the challenge.

The UK Flag Institute would also have been able to suggest tweaks to entries as well as advising on the technical considerations of the choice. Only the Monday before the vote did I find out that they had not been contacted"

However it now appears that "However, Dudley Council have commissioned a flag to be made of the winning entry, which includes the colours of the Cornbow Centre and a coat of arms, and it will be raised in the town during a special ceremony later this year.

Mr Tibbetts, who has designed other flags and tartans for towns in the Black Country, letter is in full below.

The row rumbles on!