Residents have put up St George’s Cross bunting to support England’s World Cup campaign (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Residents in a UK town have been ordered to tear down England flags ahead of the World Cup quarter-final because of the “danger” posed to drivers. St George’s Cross bunting has appeared in abundance on Church Road in Northwich, Cheshire, in a gesture of support for England in the tournament.
But the Labour-run local authority has written to homeowners warning that hanging the flags on highway infrastructure without permission is unlawful and could amount to anti-social behaviour.
Emily Disley-Joyson, a 26-year-old beautician who lives on the street, said the council was being a “killjoy” and labelled its intervention “madness”. “The World Cup brings everyone together,” she told the Daily Mail.
The Labour-run council for Northwich have issued letters warning against flag flying (Image: Getty)
Activity worker Maxine Simeone, 51, added: “We’ve had people come down with their kids to look at [the flags] and everyone is saying how nice they look.
“We’re just being patriotic. The World Cup creates such a great atmosphere.”
Retired nurse Ruth Patterson, 69, said everyone in the area was “getting behind Harry Kane and the lads, apart from the council”.
In the letter, Cheshire West and Chester Council acknowledged that the St George’s flag is “an important symbol of national identity, unity and respect”.
It added, however, that the national emblem should not be mounted unlawfully on public infrastructure, and posed avoidable risks to both motorists and pedestrians.
While residents on Church Road have decked out their street for the World Cup, discourse over the “danger” of flying England flags last reared its head in the wake of Operation Raise the Colours, an online campaign viewed by some as patriotic and others as xenophobic and intimidating.
Councils across the country removed St George’s and Union Jack flags from public areas, citing safety risks as well as trespass and obstruction.
Cheshire residents said they will not take the flags down for as long as England’s World Cup campaign continues, and have closed ranks to protect those responsible for putting them up.
The Express has contacted Cheshire West and Chester Council for comment.