Surrey County Council has removed 1,003 St George's and Union flags from its infrastructure, citing safety risks, according to Councillor Tim Oliver, the Conservative leader of the council. Approximately 308 flags remain on the council's infrastructure, Oliver said. Shropshire Council announced it will remove all unauthorised flags from street lighting columns and other highway assets, initially in Shrewsbury, with the operation estimated to cost £13,000, the council said.
Community groups have mobilised in response. A GoFundMe page set up by Raise the Flags Shrewsbury Plus has raised over £6,000 to oppose the council's removal, the group said. The group has also offered to remove the flags for free to save taxpayer money, according to Raise the Flags Shrewsbury Plus. In Northamptonshire, an activist group called Northants Flagdowners claims to have removed 1,000 Union Jacks and English flags from lampposts across the county, the group said. St George's flags were removed in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, ahead of St George's Day, sparking local anger, according to multiple reports.
Our contractor prioritises and removes any flags that present an immediate safety risk. All other flags are addressed as part of routine highway maintenance activities. To date, we have removed 1,003 flags from the network, and we estimate that approximately 308 remain.
Tensions have escalated in some areas. Shropshire Council is aware of 'community tensions' including reports of abuse directed at residents, councillors, and staff, and is working with West Mercia Police, the council said. Allegations have been made that men erecting flags in Church Stretton threatened women who confronted them, according to Andy Munro, mayor of Church Stretton. According to Daily Express - UK News, Munro described receiving phone calls from women who said they were threatened and abused by people putting up flags. Local flag activist John Cunningham rejected allegations of threatening behaviour, according to Cunningham. According to Daily Express - UK News, Cunningham described a confrontation with a woman while putting up a flag on a lamp-post.
The flag displays are part of an online movement called Operation Raise the Colours, which advocates displaying Union and St George's flags in public places, according to multiple reports. Critics of the flag movement say the flags are intimidating, provocative, and intended to cause division, according to critics. Supporters of the flag movement say the flags are expressions of national pride and patriotism, according to supporters. Shropshire Council is in the process of setting up a funding bid to create a 'positive alternative' including a locally-designed flag involving young people, the council said.
We will be removing all unauthorised flags from our street lighting columns and other highway assets. This will be in Shrewsbury initially with plans to remove all unauthorised flags across the county in time. This includes flags that are damaged or unsafe, creating a hazard, obstructing signs, posing risks following severe weather, installed without permission, regardless of condition.
Uncertainties remain over the specific safety risks that justify removal, the total number of flags removed across all councils, and the outcome of the police investigation into the alleged threats in Church Stretton.