A Reform UK councillor has hit out on the ‘pointless’ transfer.
File picture of Union and St George’s flags on lampposts (Picture: Getty)
A Lib Dem-run council’s risk to prosecute anybody deemed to have put up flags on lampposts with out permission has been slammed as “perverse”. A Reform UK councillor disagreed with the transfer by Shropshire Council, singling out the price of such authorized motion as a specific concern.
The native authority introduced the plans final week after beforehand confirming unauthorised flags, together with Union flags, on lampposts and different road furnishings can be eliminated because of security considerations. Brendan Mallon, deputy chief of Shropshire Council’s Reform group, stated the council going after flag-flyers “constitutes costly displacement exercise” when it ought to as an alternative be focusing by itself funds.
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Union and St George’s flag on a lamppost in Birmingham (file picture) (Picture: Getty)
He stated: “The concept the council will spend cash we merely don’t have, throughout a declared monetary emergency, on pointless authorized actions is perverse.”
Chatting with GB Information, he added: “I’ve sat in Planning Committee conferences the place council authorized officers have repeatedly cautioned committee members in regards to the potential authorized prices if a big property developer takes authorized motion if we reject their plans, but they’re very completely satisfied now to fund authorized circumstances towards particular person residents?”
He stated flags being flown in Shropshire are “mounted securely in protected places and well-maintained” and dismissed claims they’re getting used to “intimidate explicit teams or communities”.
Union and St George’s flags started showing throughout the nation final summer season.
Activists behind the flags have stated it’s a show of patriotism, whereas critics have accused them of sowing division amid heightened tensions over immigration.
Councillor David Vasmer, portfolio holder for highways and surroundings who introduced the authorized motion plans, stated: “To reiterate, throughout our communities, we recognise there are a selection of views in regards to the flags, as a council we respect these completely different views, our intention as a council is to stability these completely different views, whereas maintaining our residents and public areas protected, respectful and compliant with coverage.
“We subsequently have made our place on flags clear, we assist the Union Flag and placing up the Union Flag will not be a hate crime, we’ve by no means stated it was.
“What we don’t assist is the unauthorised attachment of flags, or another objects being connected to road lighting, freeway infrastructure or different public road furnishings because of well being and questions of safety.”
Shropshire Council has reported an increase in residents, workers and councillors dealing with abuse, harassment and intimidation “instantly linked” to the elimination of unapproved Union flags.
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