Staffordshire County Council ‘cannot condone’ England flag graffiti

A council has said it “cannot condone” people painting on roads after red crosses were sprayed on a pedestrian crossing to make it look like a series of England flags.

The graffiti, also like the St George’s flag, on Church Street in Audley, Staffordshire, will have to be removed at the expense of the taxpayer, Staffordshire County Council said.

It is the latest in a number of incidents involving St George’s flags in the West Midlands, which included roundabouts being painted and flags hung on lampposts.

“Although we appreciate people showing their patriotism, we cannot condone painting highways assets in this way,” councillor Peter Mason, cabinet member for highways, said.

“This presents a safety and insurance issue and will have to be removed at the expense of the taxpayer.”

He encouraged residents to “show their love for their country” in other ways such as flying a flag “in a safe way”.

The Reform UK-led authority confirmed it was looking to remove the painting on the crossing as soon as possible.

Audley residents speaking to BBC Radio Stoke were divided over whether the crossing, near the New Royal Balti Indian restaurant, should have been painted in this manner.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, described it as “pointless” and said it came across as “very racist”.

“I don’t think it’s got negative connotations as such and I guess it represents England,” she said.

“But I know who I am and I am happy with who I am. I don’t need flags everywhere to tell me.”

A man, who also did not want to be named, disagreed and said it was a matter of national pride.

“I don’t think there’s any respect for the country now,” he said. “I think what my father and other people’s fathers died for in the war has been forgotten and I don’t think people respect that.”

Adam Jogee, Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, said he “very much” welcomed people flying England flags, as it was an “important expression of national pride”.

“More than anything, it is our flag, it is a way of bringing people together and it’s an important way of demonstrating our belief in pride in our country,” he told BBC Radio Stoke.

But he said he wanted people to “do it smartly, safely and securely”, adding that painting pedestrian crossings could cause issues for people with visual impairments.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it had also received reports of flags painted on crossings in the city – though not where – and was repairing them “as quickly as resources allow”.

“We support free expression – including the flying of flags from private homes,” the Labour-led authority said on Facebook.

“But painting flags over public property is illegal and – in the case of road crossings – dangerous to pedestrians and motorists.

“This is vandalism and it costs public money to repair the damage which could be better spent on vital services.”

Under the Highways Act 1980, a local authority can remove any picture, letter, sign or other mark painted, ascribed or affixed to the surface of a highway.

Staffordshire Police and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council have been contacted for a comment.