THE battle lines are drawn in a Gwent town.

One one side, a former soldier and Conservative councillor who are at the forefront of a bid to hoist the Union Flag next to the Welsh Dragon outside a town council headquarters.

On the other, the town council's Plaid Cymru-controlled ruling body - which says that it simply costs too much to put up another flagpole.

And, they say, the decision has nothing to do with politics or Welsh nationalism.

Caldicot Chamber of Commerce secretary Mike Rice, who served as a corporal with the Welch Regiment for five years in the 1960s, says: "I'm very proud to be Welsh but I served in the British Army and I'm proud to be British too.

"Caldicot is close to the English border, and a lot of people feel very passionate having a Union Flag. I think everyone should be represented."

But Caldicot town council has said no to a second flagpole to go alongside the existing Welsh flag outside the Day Luncheon Centre in Sandy Lane.

Caldicot Chamber of Commerce had applied for permission and even agreed to pay £200 towards the £1,000 costs.

The authority is the only town or community council in Gwent to be controlled by Plaid Cymru, with the support of independents.

There are five Plaid Cymru councillors, five Independent, six Labour, and only one Conservative.

Members claim the refusal was based purely on grounds of cost, but critics argue it was a political move that excludes the town's English, Scottish and Irish communities.

Plans for a third flagpole to cater for French and German flags during visits from twin towns representatives from Morieres Les Avignon and Waghausel were also dismissed.

Conservative councillor James Harris slammed the decision, saying: "We're all part of the union, especially in Caldicot.

Steelworkers came down from Scotland, Alfred McAlpine who built the steelworks in Llanwern was Irish, and we have a large community of Bristolians. This sort of thing doesn't make non-Welsh people feel welcome in the town."

Caldicot Mayor David Ashwin and Councillor Ron Stewart denied the refusal was a political statement, and said one flagpole was sufficient.

Their fellow Plaid Cymru councillor, Joanne Daniels, said she had no objection to flying the Union Flag on principle.

"If the Chamber of Commerce was willing to fund the whole cost it would not be a problem at all," she said.

"But we couldn't justify spending £1,000 on a flagpole when there are other priorities like traffic calming and play groups. This decision was made fairly and democratically."