Residents of Church Road in Northwich, Cheshire, have been instructed by their local council to remove England flags and bunting displayed to support the national team during the World Cup. Cheshire West and Chester Council sent letters to homeowners stating the decorations are "unlawful" and could constitute "anti-social behaviour," citing them as a "clear danger" to motorists.
The patriotic display, which includes flags and bunting strung across the street from drainpipes, lamp posts, and trees, has been met with strong disapproval from some residents who view the council's actions as "killjoy" behavior. They argue that the decorations foster community spirit and enhance the atmosphere during the tournament.
"Everyone is happy about the flags," said scaffolder Ian Lee, 27, one of the residents. "We all just want to show our support for England. The council are being real killjoys. The World Cup brings everyone together."
Retired nurse Ruth Patterson, 69, described the council's order as "bonkers," emphasizing that supporting the England football team "brings us all together." She added, "I love the flags up in the street - it looks amazing. We are all getting behind Harry Kane and the lads apart from our council. It's shocking - they should be ashamed."
The council's letter referenced legislation including the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Highways Act 1980. A statement from the Labour minority-run council asserted that while flags are an "important symbol of national identity, unity, and respect," the "unauthorised fixing of flags to streetlights, road signs, or other highway infrastructure is unlawful and unacceptable." The statement also claimed that such installations create "avoidable risks to public safety" and have previously resulted in incidents where flags fell on vehicles and obscured road signage.
The issue of England flags attached to lamp posts has become a point of contention in recent times, with some associations made to far-right groups. Other councils have also issued warnings or restrictions regarding similar displays. Bristol City Council, run by the Green Party, advised residents against putting up England flags due to potential health and safety dangers, while Cambridgeshire County Council, led by the Liberal Democrats, deemed attaching flags to public lamp posts "not appropriate."