Council spends £15k removing 'safety hazard' flags

A councillor has said he is "genuinely shocked" that an authority has spent more than £15,000 removing flags from lamp-posts.

Oxfordshire County Council confirmed it had removed 330 flags so far and said placing or painting them on or near highways could create "serious safety hazards".

But the council said it "proudly flies both the Union Jack and St George's flags" and welcomed residents displaying flags on their own property.

In a Facebook post, Conservative councillor Liam Walker said he thought the money could be used on "far better things" such as fixing dangerous roads.

The cost for taking down a single flag is about £45.

The county council said its teams had been removing flags and "other unauthorised attachments" from street lights during routine maintenance or where they pose "an immediate risk".

It cited safety hazards such as reduced visibility for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians and an increased risk of distraction.

"In addition, installing flags on street furniture or near roads can lead to personal injury or property damage," it added.

"With the current darker, windier and wetter weather, these risks are increasing."

The council said each case would be assessed and priority given to those that pose an immediate risk.

"As a council, we proudly fly both the Union Jack and St George's flags. We also welcome residents displaying flags on their own property," the authority added.

"However, placing flags or painting them on or near highways can create serious safety hazards."

But Walker said the measure felt like priorities were "badly misplaced".

"I'm genuinely shocked that Oxfordshire County Council has already spent more than £15,000 removing flags from lamp-posts.

"This feels like a complete over-reaction, especially at a time when residents are battling just to get basic pothole repairs done."

He said he could think of "far better things that £15,000 could have been spent on", proposing fixing dangerous roads or "easing pressure on stretched budgets that really matter to local people".

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