Resident says Solihull England flags have 'cheapened nice area' after dozens appear overnight Story by Harry Leach • 1d • 2 min read
Birmingham Mail England And Union Flags Flying From Lampposts In Solihull
A Solihull resident says dozens of new England flags which have sprung up in his neighbourhood have 'cheapened the area'.
ED - No name as usual in media reports, or any way to be sure she even exists. England flg snobs are not a new media game - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3238795/Flag-snob-Labour-MP-Emily-Thornberry-handed-frontbench-job-Cameron-attacks-throwback-Corbyn.html
Around 50 St George's flags appeared on lampposts in Damson Lane, near the Jaguar Land Rover plant and Solihull Moors' stadium, overnight.
A group of men "with a ladder" reportedly began hanging the red and white flags in the street from around 8pm yesterday, August 20.
Similar scenes have taken place in Birmingham, Worcestershire and elsewhere in the UK - sparking a political debate after many were removed and also over the sentiment behind them.
England flags flying from lampposts in Damson Lane, Solihull © Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live Some said the flags were "an excuse for xenophobia", only serving to push an anti-immigration agenda.
While those in favour described it as a patriotic move to celebrate the country’s history and traditions.
A Solihull resident, who asked not to be named, said the flags which had appeared in his area looked "dreadful" and like "something you'd drape over your shoulders going to a football match".
He told BirminghamLive: "It's cheapened a nice area. The flags are a special brand of dreadful: poor quality, creased and many of them with the word 'England' down the middle of them."
England flags flying from lampposts in Damson Lane, Solihull © Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live He said a group of around 12 men arrived with a ladder last night and began pinning the flags to "every lamppost" in the long street.
"It is a very long road which stretches from JLR at one end, all the way up to Yew Tree Lane near to the bypass at the other," he said.
"I'd estimate there must be at least 50 or 60 lampposts with flags."
The disgruntled local said he had reported the incident to Solihull Council to find out if the flags would be removed.
It comes after Birmingham City Council removed flags in the city, saying it was in line with its "health and safety obligations".
But neighbouring Worcestershire County Council, run by Reform UK, had the opposite reaction, saying it had no plans to remove flags on its patch.
"Firstly, no-one from the group who put the flags up asked residents on the street if we wanted this," added the concerned resident.
"I have no issue with the St George's flag, but what I do take issue with is one being secured to every lamppost on my street without permission from the local authority or consulting the people who live here.
"Secondly, this is fly posting. If this were a business or other group or individual, the flags would rightly be removed immediately because one has to secure permission from the local authority.
"One can be a patriot and still be considerate to their environment and those around them - and to due process.
"The council should take action on this."
We have contacted Solihull Council for comment.