A town council has been accused of taking an 'anti-trans' stance after taking down the Progress Pride Flag.

On June 1, Bollington Town Hall raised the Progress Pride Flag 1 to mark the start of Pride Month.

However, just days later it was taken down and replaced with a rainbow flag following a complaint.

Former mayor Johanna Maitland raised the matter at a Bollington Town Council meeting on Tuesday (June 17).

She said: "It is important to ensure that council does not find itself listening to the clever, organised but minority voices who are part of national campaigns to see some sectors of the LGBTQ+ community have less rights.

"As an apolitical organisation it would be a shame to see Bollington Town Council bow to these highly political and prejudiced campaigns to frighten organisations into choosing the easy road not the road that takes all members of our town with them."

The flag was flown for a matter of days before being replaced (Credit: Johanna Maitland)

The Progress Pride Flag is an updated version of the traditional rainbow flag, incorporating new colours to represent people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community as well as the trans community and those living with HIV/AIDS.

During Johanna's time as mayor in 2021, the council agreed to fly the Progress Pride Flag each June as a way of marking Pride Month.

She explains that while the government list of approved flags has never officially updated from the original rainbow flag, it is now standard practice to fly the Progress version, as is done at the likes of Macclesfield Town Hall and the Municipal Building in Crewe.

Johanna said: "I was therefore very disappointed to see the Progress flag on our town hall flagpole swapped for the traditional rainbow flag a few days after the beginning of June this year.

"I ask council to reconsider urgently and fly the Progress flag for the rest of June."

At the meeting, councillors voted against flying the Progress flag, agreeing instead to review their flag policy.

"Against all precedent across our area, plus precedent all over the country, Bollington Town Council has voted to reduce its inclusivity and take an anti-trans stance," said Johanna.

"To say I am appalled doesn't really cover the strength of feeling. What a sad day indeed.

"And for those who need the support, I am sorry, I tried and failed. It is exhausting keep speaking up year after year, but we must carry on."

The Progress flag is being flown above Macclesfield Town Hall (Credit: Nub News)

Johanna added: "We really all need to accept that society is colourful, and we don't have to like or agree with it all but everyone has the right to exist, to live their lives in peace and fulfilment and the Progress Pride Flag says loud and clear that here we welcome everyone to a bunch of minorities who face struggles.

"I have been overwhelmed by the support from the local LGBTQ+ community since posting after the meeting how upset and disappointed I was to see the vote go against the maximum inclusion flag.

"Over 100 comments and private messages in a few hours rightly questioning why anyone would choose to fly anything other than the Progress flag." 

Speaking on Wednesday (June 18), a town council spokesperson said: "At the full council meeting held last night, it was agreed that the Rainbow Flag will be flown during Pride Month this year.

"The next step will be to review our flag flying policy to ensure it aligns with Cheshire East Council's policy, while also ensuring we remain fully compliant with all legal requirements."