Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council officials have stated that they will not routinely remove national flags mounted to lampposts.

Local councils around the UK have faced criticism for removing flags from street furniture after citizens began attaching them to lampposts following a social media campaign by a group that staged an anti-asylum seeker protest in the Midlands. Councils have given safety grounds for doing so.

Patriotism and national pride have been mentioned as reasons for displaying Union and St George’s flags in public locations in recent weeks, although some argue that such acts are motivated by anti-migrant and racist sentiments.

Although there is evidence that some efforts, such as Operation Raise the Colours, have been driven by far-right groups, many who demonstrate patriotism have expressed outrage over flags being removed or prohibited.

In the UK, Cornwall Council has accused persons who tie flags to lampposts of “disrespecting” the Union flag. The council plans to remove the flags, which would cost taxpayers money that could be better spent on fixing potholes or improving roads.

Meanwhile, council workers in parts of Scotland have reportedly been intimidated while removing flags from lampposts, with local authority chiefs in Falkirk and Aberdeenshire claiming they were removed because they were installed without permission and constituted a safety risk.

Flags have been attached to motorway bridges in Lancashire, and National Highways has confirmed their removal.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has agreed that flags would not be routinely removed from lampposts near Darwen Vale High School and Junction 4 of the M65. Darwen locals have used attachments on their properties, traditionally used for Christmas trees, to fly national flags.

Councillor Phil Riley, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, stated: “While we will not remove all flags as part of our regular highway inspections, we will prioritise anything that poses a hazard to drivers or pedestrians.”

“These are maintained for seven days if they can still be used. Owners are asked to collect them, and they can be safely displayed at home or on private land.”

A council spokesperson added: “We fly the Union flag outside our two town halls every day and appreciate the significance of the Union flag and the St George’s flag as symbols of national pride.

“We also fly flags from council-owned flagpoles in our town centres for national ceremonial events, such as the recent VJ Day celebration. We have a basic policy of removing all foul-language graffiti.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is not the only local authority that views the attachment of flags to lampposts pragmatically. Councils in Kent, Worcestershire, and Derbyshire have similarly stated that flags will not be routinely removed.

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