The UK town at war over St George’s flags – ‘it’s not wrong to be patriotic!’.TA
EXCLUSIVE: The removal of flags that were erected ‘without permission’ has been slammed as a ‘back door’ attempt to get rid of them altogether.
Flags have appeared across the town (Image: Greg Evans)
A UK town has become divided over a growing number of St George’s flags and Union Flags being attached to lampposts throughout its streets. Some residents are calling for unauthorised flags to be removed, arguing they were erected without permission, while others have launched a counter-petition urging that they remain in place as symbols of “pride” and “unity”. One petition, which has around 2,500 verified signatures, is calling on Hampshire County Council to enforce more “clear and consistent rules” when it comes to flags.
The group states that the flags have been displayed across Basingstoke “with no public indication that permission has been sought or granted”. However, counter-petition organiser Greg Evans believes this is “back door” attempt to get the flags removed. “They were not willing to admit they found them offensive, or that they were anti-British, but instead tried to persuade the local council to help them achieve their goal by asking if it is legal to fly flags on council-owned property, no doubt hoping the council would be unwilling to stand up to anything that may be considered to be ethnically contentious,” the engineer, 65, told the Express.
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Some flags have been taken down across Basingstoke (Image: Lower The Flags Basingstoke)
Meanwhile, Tim Beere, 49, who has lived in Basingstoke for his whole life, supports those who have removed the flags.
He said most of them have now been taken down from hotspots in the town, including around Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
Mr Beere said: “I welcome their removal because public spaces belong to everyone. No political or ideological group should be able to claim that public infrastructure by putting up unauthorised flags.”
“They could have been putting up a flag for a band but the point still stands – what gives them the right to put it up? They need permission,” he continued.
The group behind taking away the flags, called Lower the Flags Basingstoke, said its current record is removing 120 flags in one night. They pointed out it is illegal to fly flags from lampposts under the Highway Act 1980.
Flags were put up on lampposts in Basingstoke (Image: Greg Evans)
St George’s and Union Jack flags have been appearing across the nation following the launch of “Operation Raise the Colours”. Those responsible for the movement say they are motivated by patriotism while others argue the flags are provocative at a time when tensions are high over immigration.
On why he is in favour of the flags being displayed in public, Mr Evans said: “I hope to promote the fact that it is not wrong to be patriotic or to be proud of our national flags. I hope to make the British people understand we have the right to show our love of country and not to be ashamed of it or feel it is wrong to do so.
“I would hope to make British people understand that we have as much right to let our opinions be known as those that we have welcomed to our country do.
“The St George’s flag represents the country I was born in, love, and have served home and abroad for decades of my life. I believe it represents the good in our country in the same way that those who have religious beliefs believe in the good of their chosen faith.”
According to Mr Evans, a number of people he has met, including work colleagues, friends and families, share his opinion. He said he has not faced any criticism for launching the petition, adding that everyone he has spoken to supports his campaign.
He continued: “I support the union of the United Kingdom, but respect the opinion of those in Scotland and Wales that feel they wish to leave. I hate to see the Union Jack being flown or displayed in the incorrect orientation and am still shocked by the number of people I have met that did not realise there was a correct orientation!”
A number of flags were put up around Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital (Image: PA)
However, Mr Beere argued: “These people think they’ve got a god-given right to put these up but I think it’s fundamentally wrong. The issue isn’t the national flag, I have pride in the country and when it was the Queen’s jubilee I flew a Union Jack at my home, but if you’re using the flag with the intent to divide then that’s wrong.”
Mr Beere also raised the potential impact on the taxpayer if the council is required to take the flags down. He noted other issues, such as potholes, as more pressing in Basingstoke.
“If the authority has take them down, then that’s on me as a taxpayer,” he explained. “Potholes are rife in Basingstoke but the taxpayers’ money could be spent on taking down the flags.
“If these people put them up but it’s the council’s responsibility to take them down, then that’s costing everyone money. It should be going towards fixing potholes, reducing waiting times at the NHS, not removing flags.”
A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “Our position remains that items placed on County Council highway assets, including streetlights, may be considered for removal as part of routine highway maintenance activity. Anything that poses a risk to the safe operation of the public highway will be prioritised for immediate removal.
“We are aware of the petitions that have been launched on this issue. Any petitions submitted to the County Council will be carefully considered and a response will be issued in due course.”
