Reform UK-led councils warn against flags on posts

West Northamptonshire Council said it was dangerous for people to climb up lamp posts

Two Reform UK-led councils have urged residents wishing to fly flags in public to do so safely and not to tie them to lamp posts or road signs.

West Northamptonshire and north Northamptonshire councils reminded people it was an offence to attach anything to lamp posts without permission from the highways authority.

St George's and Union Jack flags have been increasingly found lining streets across England.

A campaign group in Birmingham has said it wants the appearance of flags to spread "joy", but others have said it is intimidating.

Mark Arnull, leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said he "fully" encouraged people to "proudly fly flags" on their own home and property.

"But I would urge them not to attempt anything dangerous like putting them up on street furniture or road signs," he said.

"Not only does this put their own safety at great risk, but also that of motorists if the flags distract them or block their view."

Stuart Timmiss, the council's executive director of place, pointed out that lamp posts were not designed to take the weight of a ladder or person climbing up it, and that there could be a risk of electrocution.

A St George's cross was painted on a white roundabout in the west Northamptonshire village of Brixworth

Martin Griffiths, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said: "It's wonderful to see residents having such a sense of national pride and wishing to express this by flying flags, particularly with the Women's Rugby World Cup coming to our county.

"However we need to be pragmatic and where flags of any description create a safety issue we may need to take them down in the best interests of our residents."

The national Reform UK party has criticised the removal of flags from lamp posts in Tower Hamlets, east London, and also in Birmingham.

An increasing number of St George's flags were noticed in mid-July in Weoley Castle in Birmingham, which was believed to be in response to a 12-year-old girl being prevented from giving a speech about being British at her school.

The subsequent Weoley Warriors group encouraged flags to be put up and it previously told the BBC Midlands Today programme that "we really hope it brightens your day and brings joy and love".

A group named Operation Raise the Colours has encouraged people to put up flags, and the Times has reported that the group accepted a donation from far-right organisation Britain First.

Dorset council leader Nick Ireland, a Liberal Democrat, has said that some of his residents find the appearance of St George's flags to be "intimidating" and it was "naive" to suggest the emblems had not been "hijacked" by some far-right groups.

A spokesperson from Bristol charity Stand Against Racism and Inequality has said that while not every flag was put up "with the intent to divide", they "are making some minoritised people feel less safe, intimidated, and unwelcome in their communities".