Derby City Council said it was time to bring the campaign of flag flying “to an end”
By Christian Abbott
A Midlands council has ignited outrage over their decision to remove St George’s flags from the streets.
From September 29, Derby City Council said it will start to remove the national flags from bridges, walls and lamp-posts.
The Labour-led council said it was time to bring the campaign of flag flying “to an end”
Councillor Sarah Chambers said it was a “statutory responsibility” to keep public spaces safe and well maintained.
In a statement, she said it was time to bring the “campaign of flag flying to an end” but she “fully” supported those who want fly flags on their own property.
She explained: “We’ve applied flexibility in our discretion in recent weeks, but going forward anyone wishing to display posters, banners, flags or similar on public land or street furniture must obtain the standard permissions.
“As part of our statutory responsibility to keep public spaces safe and well-maintained, we will be required to remove items that have not obtained the standard permissions.”
The announcement has been met with significant backlash, including by Councillor Tim Prosser, Reform Derby group leader on the city council.
He said flying the flag was not a “show of aggression or racial hate but simply as a token of national pride and frustration about our Government”.
