The roundabouts were painted as the council took down flags attached to lampposts
Residents have taken a flag row to the streets by painting the St George’s Cross on a handful of mini roundabouts across one major UK city. People in Birmingham hit out after the Birmingham City Council announced English flags hoisted from lampposts would be removed.
The Union Jack and St George’s Cross had been put on display in the Weoley Castle and Northfield neighbourhoods of the city. Local residents said that they were doing this out of a sense of patriotism.
However, the city council removed the flags and made a safety appeal to residents who were considering putting the flags on lampposts and other street furniture. Locals put up the Union Jack and St George’s flags as part of an online movement called Operation Raise the Colours.
Council chiefs ordered the flags to be taken down due to safety concerns. They said the “unauthorised items” are “dangerous” and could potentially harm motorists and pedestrians.
Following the announcement, several mini roundabouts in Kings Heath and Yardley Wood have been painted, and there are reports of more being painted in other areas. The Union Jack and St George’s Cross have also appeared on lampposts in the Weoley Castle and Northfield areas of the city, according to SWNS.
The council said it had removed around 200 flags while upgrading streetlights to energy-efficient LED lighting. West Midlands Police said it had not yet received any complaints of criminal damage.
However, the police force said it would investigate any reports of criminal damage made by the local authority or a member of the public. Residents from the areas have expressed mixed views on the transformed traffic islands.
One woman in Kings Heath said: “It is nothing more than sheer, wanton vandalism. There is nothing patriotic about having a spray can and damaging a roundabout. The council can’t afford to fix the potholes, let alone repaint mini islands idiots have defaced.”
Resident Ian Anderson, 40, said: “I certainly don’t agree with vandalising roads or roundabouts, after all flags are just flags and can be taken down. However, there is a real sense that people who are proud to be British are being made to feel ashamed of their patriotism. I don’t see anything wrong with flags on lampposts, it reminds me of when the World Cup or Olympics is on.”
Speaking to the BBC, another local said it was “not patriotic”, adding: “It just feels like an excuse for xenophobia. There are better ways to show pride – ways that are inclusive and respectful, not resorting to vandalism.”
Several residents from the Weoley Castle and Northfield neighbourhoods in Birmingham shared with BBC Radio WM their approval of the flags being displayed. One woman said: “It’s patriotic, so I think it’s wonderful. It symbolises us, doesn’t it, Great Britain?”
Another woman said: “I believe they’re fantastic, [they] bring joy to people’s faces. They’re harmless, just fluttering in the breeze, representing England, which is where we are, of course.”