Residents who decorated their street with England flags for the World Cup have spoken of their dismay after their ‘killjoy’ Labour council ordered them to remove the display.
St George’s flags and England bunting have been placed across Church Road in Northwich, Cheshire, so residents can show their support for the Three Lions at the tournament in North America.
The flags criss-cross the street attached to drainpipes, lamp posts and even trees.
Similar patriotic displays line roads up and down England as the nation gets behind its footballers as they prepare for Saturday evening’s quarter final against Norway.
But now Cheshire West and Chester Council have sent letters to homeowners telling them the flags are ‘unlawful’ and that putting them up could constitute ‘anti-social behaviour’.
It has also asked furious residents to tell officials who put up the flags and bunting, claiming they are a ‘clear danger’ to motorists
However residents of the street are standing their ground and refusing to remove them as long as England remain in the tournament.
Beautician Emily Disley-Joyson, 26, said: ‘It’s madness to say we have to bring them down.
Residents of Church Road in Northwich, Cheshire have strung England bunting from drainpipes, lamp posts and trees to show their support for the Three Lions
Retired nurse Ruth Patterson, 69, branded the local council ‘bonkers’ for ordering the removal of the flags, saying getting behind the England football team ‘brings us all together’
‘Everyone is happy about the flags,’ according to scaffolder Ian Lee, 27 (pictured)‘We all just want to show our support for England.
‘The council are being real killjoys.
‘The World Cup brings everyone together.’
Scaffolder Ian Lee, 27, said: ‘You’d think the council would have something better to do than moan about the street.
‘Everyone is happy about the flags.’
Activity worker Maxine Simeone, 51, said: ‘It’s crazy the council are trying to order us to take them down.
‘It’s nonsense to say it will cause problems.
‘We’ve had people come down with their kids to look at them and everyone is saying how nice they look.
The ‘killjoy’ Labour council has ordered residents of Church Road in Northwich to remove the patriotic display
Residents of Church Road say the decorations help create a ‘great atmosphere’ during the World Cup
‘We are just being patriotic – the World Cup creates such a great atmosphere and brings everyone together.
‘No one is going to tell the council who put them up.
‘It reminds me of the Jubilee and things like that.
‘I’m pretty sure everyone’s happy about it except for the council.’
Retired nurse Ruth Patterson, 69, has also decorated her house near the street.
The grandmother said: ‘It’s bonkers that the council are up in arms about the bunting and flags.
‘It’s just for the World Cup – everyone is so excited about it and it brings us all together.
‘My family are all watching the games and love the flags.
Flags have fallen on vehicles or road signs, causing a ‘clear danger to road users’, according to Cheshire West and Chester Council
‘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 letter to residents cited legislation including the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Highways Act 1980.
The Labour minority-run council said the flags were ‘an important symbol of national identity, unity, and respect’ and were flown from public buildings in the town.
However in a statement it said: ‘The unauthorised fixing of flags to streetlights, road signs, or other highway infrastructure is unlawful and unacceptable.
‘It creates avoidable risks to public safety, including hazards for drivers and pedestrians, and places council operatives at risk when required to remove them.
‘There have already been incidents in Cheshire West where flags have fallen on to vehicles and obscured road signage, posing a clear danger to road users.’
The issue of England flags being attached to lamp posts has become highly contentious over the past 12 months due to some campaigners’ links with far-right groups.
Green-run Bristol city council told residents not to put up England flags because they would not be ‘welcoming’ and posed health and safety dangers.
Lib Dem controlled Cambridgeshire County Council said it was ‘fantastic’ to see residents flying the cross of St George from houses and cars in support of their team – but said attaching them to public lamp posts was not ‘appropriate’.
Meanwhile Lib Dem-run Oxfordshire County Council won a High Court injunction that banned anybody from flying flags on or near public highways
