Surrey Council removes over 1,000 St George's and Union flags deemed 'safety risk'

The raise the colours campaign promoting the display of national flags was founded by activists to promote patriotism and gained prominence quickly with flags adorned on street furniture up and down the country.

Despite the intentions, the campaign was often interpreted as being linked to far-right, anti-migrant politics, leading some councils to step in and remove flags from public display.

Whilst recognising flags as "symbols of national pride," and proudly flying the Union flag from the council headquarters in Reigate, Surrey Council's stance on flags is that they must be legally approved, and unauthorised flags will be removed.

"Flags can pose a risk to both drivers and pedestrians so it is our standard procedure to remove them", a council statement read.

Tim Oliver OBE, Conservative leader of Surrey Council, stressed the sheer volume of flags erected across the county, and the efforts the council has committed to remove them in line with policy.

He said: "To date, we have removed 1,003 flags from the network, and we estimate that approximately 308 remain.

"These figures are based on the best information currently available to us and reflect the installations of which we are aware.

"Our contractor prioritises and removes any flags that present an immediate safety risk. All other flags are addressed as part of routine highway maintenance activities".

The council leader described the attachment of flags to highway infrastructure as an "ongoing challenge", with more than 300 flags installed across the county between December 1 and February.

With political tensions brewing across the country, decisions around flags have sparked much controversy - with some Surrey residents taking to social media to express their dismay for flags and what the might represent for some.

One resident said: "Flags all over Horley need removing, they have made the whole area unpleasant, people are avoiding the town and are laughing at the vile, mindless motives of the residents".

Meanwhile, others have expressed their pride of the flags, insisting no ulterior motive beyond patriotism and emphasising a right and desire to display pride for the nation.

One supporter said: "Waving the flag is about celebrating all things British, local, and full of heart".

Ward councillors previously raised concerns that removing flags illegally attached to street lighting encouraged those "using the threat of violence to get what they want", undermining community cohesion.

To avoid an escalation of local hostility, Surrey Council’s contractor was instructed not to immediately remove flags and that the wholesale removal of flags would be extremely challenging - if not impossible - due to the strength of local feeling.

Jonathan Essex, Green Party councillor for Redhill, lobbied the council to act despite this sentiment, resulting in the removal of waves of publicly displayed flags.

Mr Essex previously said: "Now it is clear, at least in Horley, that rather than having been removed, flags are increasingly in tatters, untidy yet remaining in place. They have not been removed as part of routine maintenance or inspection works as was the stated policy.

"It is clear that Surrey Council’s current policy is not working. Instead, the continued presence of these flags and failure to remove them from the public highway, implies consent and gives tacit legitimacy to their intimidating presence.

"While Surrey County Council states its ambition to be a county where no-one is left behind.

"In light of the above, please will you Leader, now intervene. just as you noted you had done with regard to the length of grass.

"Please now address the length of time that flags persist illegally on street lights in Surrey, contrary to our stated policies.

"The current state of affairs is creating a new normal where such misuse of public assets appears to be condoned".