One council has spent £8,000 in the past year removing Union and St George’s flags from its public places and lighting columns, it has been reported.
The BBC reported that the flags were taken down from lampposts, bridges, road signs and roundabouts in Southampton after going up as part of the movement known as ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ last summer.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that Southampton City Council had removed 398 flags at a cost of £8,100 between August 2025 and late April this year.
The council said displaying flags on lampposts or street furniture without approval is not permitted, the BBC said.
While this is just one council’s experience, it potentially illustrates the cost to local authorities of managing the spate of unofficial attachments that have been seen on lighting columns and other public realm infrastructure.
The ILP has warned in guidance of the dangers to public health and safety of unofficial attachments to lighting columns, both in terms of members of the public accessing columns and the possible impact on a column’s structural integrity.
ILP members have also told of council teams being subjected to verbal abuse and harassment from the public while removing flags and other attachments.
The BBC in its report said Southampton Labour councillor Toqeer Kataria argued the decision was based on “consistent and appropriate use of council-owned infrastructure across the city”.
He added: “Southampton City Council fully supports people’s right to celebrate their identity, culture and heritage, but this must be done in a safe, responsible and lawful way.”
Image: a lighting column (without flag) in Southampton, Pexels
