Roundabout flags could cause crashes, says council

A roundabout in Horsforth is among several in the city to have been painted

People are being urged not to paint flag designs on roundabouts in Leeds over fears they could distract drivers and cause crashes.

Leeds City Council said several white mini roundabouts and road crossings had been painted with red crosses to emulate the pattern of the St George's cross.

The authority said a number of flags had also been strung from lamp-posts in the city amid a growing trend across England.

A council spokesperson said painting roundabouts could "confuse motorists and potentially lead to accidents," adding that it would be painting over any that had been altered "as soon as possible".

Union jacks and St George's flags have been appearing in communities across the country since mid-July and have divided opinion.

Some view them as a patriotic gesture, while others regard them as a challenge to the presence of asylum seekers and of people not born in the UK more generally.

A number of councils have already taken action to remove flags from lamp-posts while others have said they will leave them in place.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: "We are aware a number of flags have been placed on lamp columns and several mini roundabouts and crossings have been painted across parts of Leeds.

"We would urge residents to please refrain from doing this because it could cause confusion for motorists unfamiliar with the local road layout and potentially lead to accidents."

They added that returning roundabouts and street markings to their original state "diverts limited resources away from other important highways work" and warned of the dangers of working in the road.

The council said: "Anything that causes a highways risk or potential damage to infrastructure will be removed quickly whilst repainting road markings will take place where needed as soon as possible."

The council said the markings could confuse motorists and lead to collisions

The announcement came as Barnsley Council said it was taking a similar approach.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton, said flags fixed to public property or painted on roads would be taken away.

"Regardless of how much we might love our flags, criminal damage and graffiti are not acceptable in any circumstances," he said.

"It then presents an ongoing health and safety risk to motorists and pedestrians."

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