{"id":401954,"date":"2025-09-06T06:30:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T06:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/401954\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T06:30:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T06:30:18","slug":"council-issues-warning-about-st-georges-flags-being-flown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/401954\/","title":{"rendered":"Council issues warning about St George&#8217;s flags being flown"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The council said flying flags on public property is illegal &#8220;unless prior permission is sought and obtained&#8221;<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1_British-Flags-Appear-Across-The-UK.jpg\" alt=\"St George's flags have been appearing on lampposts and other public property across the country\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>St George&#8217;s flags have been appearing on lampposts and other public property across the country(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Knowsley Council has issued a warning to residents after St George&#8217;s flags were spotted on lampposts, bridges, and other public assets <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/Knowsley\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"across the boroughLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\">across the borough<\/a>. The<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/Knowsley Council\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" local authorityLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\"> local authority<\/a> said the flags had been installed without permission, in violation of regulations designed to protect public safety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The council emphasised that while it recognises residents may wish to show patriotism, attaching items to council-owned infrastructure is illegal without prior approval.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In a statement, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/Knowsley Council\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Knowsley CouncilLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\">Knowsley Council<\/a> said: &#8220;Recently, a number of flags have been attached to council-owned assets such as lampposts and bridges, which is against the law unless prior permission is sought and obtained \u2013 which it hasn\u2019t been.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;When on the public highway, the safety of all road users, pedestrians and cyclists is the Council\u2019s priority. Such items, if not affixed correctly, can pose health and safety risks such as obscuring the view of the road or be a distraction to drivers, as well as the risks to people who climb on such assets to affix items which can also cause damage to the asset too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;The Council understands that residents&#8217; may wish to show their patriotism through public displays, but public safety is our priority, consequently, the Council will remove any such flags or displays where they:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Pose a health and safety risk (such that lights may be obscured, a street column could be damaged);<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Are found as part of routine maintenance and prior approval has not been sought; or<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have, in the Council\u2019s opinion, political or racist undertones or are located to cause community tension.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While residents are free to display flags on their own private property, the council <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\/uk-world-news\/flag-row-escalates-locals-paint-32302869\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"urged people to ensure they do not cause safety concernsLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">urged people to ensure they do not cause safety concerns<\/a> or infringe on others&#8217; rights. It also reminded owners of listed buildings to check with the planning team before flying any flags.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In a more serious development, the Council said it is aware of threats made against personnel involved in removing unauthorised flags. These incidents have been reported to authorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The statement continued: &#8220;This is completely unacceptable. Any such incidents of staff being threatened will be reported to the appropriate authority and the Council will seek that the strongest penalties are imposed on those responsible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It\u2019s important that we all work together to ensure the safety of everyone who lives, works or visits the borough.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Those responsible for flying the St George&#8217;s flags in other areas of the country have claimed they were motivated by &#8216;pride and patriotism&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For the latest news and breaking news visit <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news<\/a> Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/data.reachplc.com\/212764146160855\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"daily and breaking newsletterLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">daily and breaking newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sign up to our breaking news newsletter <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/data.reachplc.com\/212764146160855\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Follow us on <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/twitter\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a> <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LivEchonews\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"@LivECHONewsLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">@LivECHONews<\/a> &#8211; the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account &#8211; real news in real time. We&#8217;re also on <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theliverpoolecho\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Facebook\/theliverpoolechoLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook\/theliverpoolecho<\/a> &#8211; your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The council said flying flags on public property is illegal &#8220;unless prior permission is sought and obtained&#8221;St George&#8217;s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":401955,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[748,393,4884,378,458,41030,179,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-401954","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-in-the-news","12":"tag-knowsley","13":"tag-knowsley-council","14":"tag-liverpool","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115155948938015277","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=401954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401954\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/401955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=401954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=401954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=401954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}