Councils under attack for removing Welsh and union flags with new tactic now being urged!

 
No one has the right to remove our national flags, people should be arrested for calling them racist. Councils have come under fire for removing Welsh and union flags from lampposts and other street furniture in North Wales. Recent weeks has seen flags hoisted across the UK - with St George's and Union Jack flags appearing in England, and Y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon flag of Wales) joining union banners in this country.

The flags are viewed by many as a symbol of respect, patriotism and celebration but it comes amid tensions over immigration into the UK and seen by others as provocative. In North Wales flags have appeared in numerous towns and villages - often on street furniture. But councils have now started to remove them, sparking an angry response. Anglesey council were accused of being a "joke" for taking down flags from the Holyhead and Valley area while Denbighshire council were branded "a disgrace" after banners were brought down in Rhyl. The removal of the Welsh flag came under particular attack.

Some have now said they will simply put up new flags while others said the next move was to just use private property for the flags. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

On Anglesey, one person said: "Takes you years to sort out potholes and road markings. But you can remove the flags from lamp posts that were brightening the Island up." Another added: "Anglesey Country Council you are a joke." Osian Evans said it was "absolutely shameful" that Welsh flags were being removed on Anglesey. He added: "You know the country is finished when you can’t fly your own flag with pride." 

In Rhyl, one person said: "What a disgrace, other countries so proud of their flag" although another said that the union flag "has no place in Wales since there is no Welsh representation on it".

Now many say they will focus on raising flags on their homes and other private land. One said: "Shame on them! My Welsh and Scottish flags just arrived in the post and will be going up in my garden! Council can’t touch them."

In response, a spokesperson for Anglesey council said: "The County Council recognises that flags are often displayed as symbols of pride, heritage, and unity within our communities. However, attaching flags or any other items to highway property - including lamp posts, traffic signs, and barriers - is unlawful and poses significant safety risks to road users.

Some of the Welsh flags that had been put up in Holyhead (Image: Paul Martin)

"Contrary to online speculation, recent works to remove unauthorised flags and banners from highway property, managed by the County Council, were carried out by a local contractor under our instruction. "To ensure public safety, the Council operates a zero-tolerance policy on the unauthorised use of highway property for the display of flags or banners, regardless of their purpose. Allowing such items to remain would set a precedent and undermine our statutory duty to protect all road users." Denbighshire council said: "As per Council policy, we routinely remove any unauthorised attachments from street furniture to ensure public safety to both road users and pedestrians. The Council has a duty to safeguard road users and pedestrians, and unauthorised attachments on street furniture (such as lampposts and barriers etc) can present a risk to public safety, especially road users.

"For these reasons, the Council does not allow any notices/banners to be placed on the highway or to be attached on the Council’s street furniture without prior discussion and Council approval." From...https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/councils-under-attack-removing-welsh-32419768?fbclid=IwY2xjawMpeFBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmkzkAttWOw0ni3FD9KRSf273fP992N-gOZG9J1h8u_ASpYSGXoN9UXF9yya_aem_3yYie0qLlkRVyv1RZfn68Q#ICID=Android_DailyPostNewsApp_AppShare