Hundreds more are expected to go upahead of the World Cup next month
(Image: Alex Seabrook/LDRS)
Bristol Live readers have been voicing their opinions on the flags adorning Bristol’s lampposts, with strong views on both sides and queries surrounding council regulations, expenditure and motivation.
Between 800 and 900 flags remain flying across the city after efforts to remove them were halted on safety grounds. However, significantly more England flags are anticipated to go up this summer ‘for legitimate reasons’, as the Fifa World Cup gets under way next month.
England flags began appearing across the country last year as part of the Raise the Colours campaign. The flags have proven deeply divisive, with supporters arguing they represent patriotism, while opponents contend they feel intimidating and carry xenophobic undertones.
Bristol City Council has adopted a relaxed stance towards removing flags from lampposts, with the expectation that they will eventually all come down. The matter of their removal was raised at the public health and communities policy committee.
Green Councillor Ellie Freeman, representing Bedminster, said: “Residents are becoming increasingly frustrated with what they see as a lack of action on this. I know there’s a lot of challenges around it but I don’t think we’re explaining those very well. Lots of my residents are shocked that we’re allowing flags to be left on council property.”
The council conducts a fortnightly count of the flags, with numbers fluctuating between 800 and 900 throughout the city. While some areas of Bristol have few or no flags at all, they’re heavily concentrated in districts such as Bedminster and Southmead. Many flags erected several months ago now look worn and dishevelled.
One commenter, Randymandy writes: “Flags fly, and lefties cry.”
HanhamHeights replies: “Nobody’s crying about the flag, they’re pointing out you’re not allowed to fly tip council lampposts. Same law that stops me from dumping my DIY waste outside your house.”
Xercesblue12 comments: “Perhaps it’s time to dial down on this. Clearly, erecting flags on lamp posts is against a bylaw, but the council are having problems removing them. More flags are expected to be flown for the World Cup.”
Dirtystreets23 writes: “Can’t see anything hateful about flying the flag of your country many other countries do it even Scotland Wales, Poland and nearly every country on earth , fly your flag and be proud. A lot just fly tip on street corners late at night but perhaps we could fill in the potholes on major roads instead of wasting money on vanity projects BCC.”
Cheekychap67 replies: “Like paying to remove illegal flags?”
Registeredroyalty says: “The controversy is about the misuse of a national symbol for intimidation and political agitation, rather than fear of the flag itself. I hope that helps inform those who just don’t understand the basics – or don’t want to understand.”
Bluemorpho11 answers: “Which is why the imperative is to get to the underlying causes, in order to remedy them, of the flag as a symbol being used for these reasons, just as underlying reasons for why sections of the left display anti-semitic behaviours need to be sought. That is ‘for those who just don’t understand the basics- or don’t want to understand’.”
Banksstuart2 adds: “I have never felt intimidated or fearful over seeing a ‘rag up a pole’, people are far too sensitive about those who wish to show their support of national pride by flying their national flag.”
Kaylon64 says: “Put a flag up a lamp post, then when the council turn up to remove them, the rhetoric starts: you hate the flag so you must logically hate the country, and if you hate the country, leave.”
Should flags be allowed to be flown on lampposts? Comment below or HERE to join in the debate.