The pole has recently been fixed to the top of the Conway, or round tower, as part of a £130,000 restoration project to enable it to be opened to the public for overnight stays.
Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham said: ‘I was surprised to see the flagpole appear and I think it is unnecessary. La Rocco Tower is an iconic visual landmark, the unspoiled silhouette of which has been left undisturbed for years and should remain so.’
It has also emerged that the heritage organisation, which cares for many of the Island’s national monuments, neglected to get planning permission for the flag pole. As La Rocco is a listed building such work has to be approved.
Jersey Heritage director Jon Carter said: ‘It does appear that the flagpole was not included in the series of applications. We’ve spoken with Planning and we’ll seek to regularise that situation.’
In response to Senator Farnham’s comments, Mr Carter said: ‘We can adjust the height of the flag pole if that is what people feel is the right thing to do.’
Nonetheless, he says from the historical perspective it was common practice to have flag poles on the Island’s coastal towers. He added, the flag pole at La Rocco is in keeping with the long-standing tradition of flying a flag at Seymour Tower, which is also administered by Jersey Heritage, when it is occupied.
Mr Carter said: ‘A flag pole would have been part of the original military uses of the coastal towers so to have one at La Rocco completes the restoration.’
He said that an old painting of La Rocco Tower which shows a Union Flag flying from the top supports this assertion.
