Cambridgeshire County Council has become the latest local authority to vow to remove England flags from lampposts, citing safety concerns. Council leader Lucy Nethsingha said that while individuals may fly flags on their property or vehicles, attaching them to lampposts is not appropriate.
Speaking to the BBC, Nethsingha described putting a ladder up against a lamppost as "incredibly reckless and risks lives." She added: "We will be taking down all the flags attached without permission. We are looking at ways to prevent this in the future."
Previous Legal Action in Oxfordshire
Cambridgeshire is not the first local authority to take such action. In Oxfordshire, legal action brought by the county council led to four activists agreeing in June not to raise flags on lampposts. The council argued the activity involved safety risks, trespass, and obstruction.
Oxfordshire County Council said flags had been placed on or near public roads without permission for months, despite a formal legal notice in March and pre-action letters sent to individuals. Robin Green, acting for the council, named the four as Ryan Bridge, Ben Cullen, Trudy Wells, and Kevin Good. After a hearing on June 23, the group agreed not to put up more flags, not to encourage others to do so, and not to obstruct council workers taking them down.
Other Councils Taking Action
Councils in Shropshire and Blackpool have also removed flags, citing public safety concerns. The removals have become contentious as Union and St George's Cross flags have been flown across the UK as part of an online campaign called Operation Raise The Colours and in support of England during the World Cup.
Divided Opinions
Operation Raise The Colours argues that flying flags from lampposts and street furniture shows patriotism. However, others contend that the flying of Union and St George's Cross flags is a cover for xenophobia and racism, aimed at provoking and dividing communities amid tensions over immigration.
Local resident Billy Crotty, who hung flags along the A1198 last year, said the council's approach was overkill and told the BBC he has stopped hanging them.
