As London officials remained mum about the idea, city residents were embracing the notion of decorating more streets with Canada flags for the country’s 150th birthday.

By Monday, dozens of Londoners had contacted The Free Press supporting Ted Skinner’s efforts to flag an entire four blocks of his street with Canadian flags.

But repeated efforts by The Free Press to reach the city officials weighing a complaint about the flags failed to elicit a response.

And Skinner himself hadn’t heard from the city, either.

So, he kept putting up the flags.

He did hear a rumour, from someone who knows a bylaw officer, that the flags would have to come down.

“This year, why can’t we fly the flags? That is the part I don’t understand,” the retired contractor said.

Skinner always had a Canada flag at his house, but a few weeks ago decided to put one on a London Hydro pole on his Old North street, Thornton Avenue.

That worked so well he put up six more to line the entire block. Neighbours on an adjoining block of the street asked for the flags, and the red-and-white Maple Leafs are now spreading to the other two blocks of the street.

With about seven poles per block, that will make up to 30 patriotic poles when he’s done.

But one of Skinner’s neighbours has complained to city hall about the flags.

City hall licensing officials have met Skinner and said they’d have to talk to their supervisors about the flags.

The Free Press contacted the licensing official who met Skinner and the official’s supervisor, but hadn’t heard if the banners can stay.

“It looks so pretty,” said Sharon Kubinski, a longtime friend who calls Skinner “the mayor of Thornton Avenue.”

“It’s hard to believe anyone would complain about it. If this was in the United States, this would never happen,” she said. “I’m hoping more people would like to do it on other streets.”

rrichmond@postmedia.com

twitter.com/RandyRatLFPress

Online reaction

A sampling of reaction, from Facebook and elsewhere:

Al Rickwood: City of London should follow his (Skinner’s) example and fill the rest of the streets with Canadian Flags.

Albert Hammond: I say, if we have enough flags to decorate our city then hang them up! 150 years of Canada happens to be a milestone I’m proud to live in.

Laura Boogemans: More flags the better! This is big. We should all fly a Canada Flag!

Jennifer Polina: I live on Thornton and I LOVE the flags!

Helen Hunnakko Matthews: Great idea for our country's 150 birthday. Very proud.

Sarah Squissato: If the city makes him take the flags down that is the most ridiculous thing ever!!!!