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27
Aug
St George’s flags painted on roundabouts will be painted over, senior councillor warns
A senior North Yorkshire councillor has warned that St George’s flags painted onto roundabouts and other road markings will be painted over.
The trend has seen Union Jacks and the cross of St George appear on lampposts and street furniture up and down the UK in recent days. Some have also been painted on roundabouts.
It has sparked a national debate as some view the flag as a symbol of respect and celebration, while others associate the campaign with the recent anti-immigration demonstrations.
Cllr Malcom Taylor, executive councillor for highways and transport at North Yorkshire Council, has said while the council respects individual rights to fly flags on private property, they must not do so on public property.
He said:
While we respect individuals’ rights to fly and paint flags on their own private property, they must not do so on public property.
Such actions are not only illegal but also pose a safety risk to both pedestrians and motorists. The removal of unauthorised flags and markings also incurs costs to the taxpayer and may lead to delays for road users.
Any flags painted on roundabouts or road markings will be removed as soon as resources allow. Flags affixed to street furniture, such as lampposts, will also be taken down.
We appreciate the public’s cooperation in helping to maintain safety and respect for these shared spaces.
The move comes as Ripon found itself at the centre of a national row over the bank holiday weekend about patriotism and racism after far-right activist Tommy Robinson shared a video on his X account.
The video, which is believed to have been filmed near the Dallamires Lane junction, features three young women pulling the flag down from a lamppost.
One of the women then throws it onto the floor and repeatedly jumps on it. Vehicles can be heard tooting their horns as the woman take down the flag.
The footage has attracted thousands of views on social media and has been widely shared.
Many people commenting on posts have criticised the women’s actions, accusing them of disrespecting the flag and the country.
The women have also been the subject of numerous misogynistic and hateful comments from social media users.
The incident comes as flags appear in communities across England following the launch of a social media campaign, dubbed Operation Raise Your Colours.
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