More than 4,000 people have signed a petition against plans for the Reform-led county council to attach union flags to lampposts across Notts which campaigners have called a ‘divisive gesture’.
A total of 164 Union Flag banners will be displayed in 82 locations – including Gedling.at a cost of around £75,000.
The petition was set up by an anonymous user and says the move ‘does not reflect the inclusive community spirit of Nottinghamshire’.
It argues: “This allocation of funds, which belong to all taxpayers, is concerning, especially when many local services are underfunded and require immediate attention. £75,000 could be better spent addressing urgent community needs such as improving education, healthcare, and public safety services.
“The proposed flag installation is not only financially burdensome but also symbolically divisive. At a time when we should strive for unity, erecting partisan symbols only serves to deepen divisions among residents.”
The petition has so far attracted 4,112 signatures.
It goes on to call for a ‘transparent discussion’ involving the entire community making a decision on public spending priorities.
“We need to ensure that taxpayer money reflects the majority’s interests and benefits the community as a whole.”
Nottinghamshire County Council leader Cllr Mick Barton said the new lamppost brackets were a “long-term” investment.
“They will last 10 to 15 years. They are multi-functional, it is not just about the Union Flag. Initially we are going to put the Union Flag in these brackets and it is going to go across the county.
“We shan’t just be leaving the Union Flag in there. Next year when it comes to Remembrance Day, we have budgeted for banners to be going in there. We are doing a big thing on fostering next year, foster family promotion work, we are going to be putting those banners in there. We’ve got lots of other celebration work.”
Opposition groups have criticised the move.
Conservative county councillor Mike Adams said: “As Conservatives we love the Union Flag. I have one outside my house, but it should stay as donations.
“People have been doing this out of their own pockets. Why should a struggling family be contributing to this from their council tax?”
Nottinghamshire’s Labour group also argued Reform was “wasting our money”.
The petition can be signed HERE
4,112 is not very many.
We must be the only country in the world where flying the flag of our country is seen as ‘divisive’ by some.
I find the countrywide display of the flag of St George from numerous lamp posts, bridges and other vantage points hilarious.
I suspect that the proponents of this trend have little sympathy for refugees of any nationality but especially not for Palestinian refugees, the majority of whom are Muslims. While St George is viewed as an early Christian martyr put to death during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian for refusing to renounce his Christian faith whilst also serving in the Roman Army, his father is said to have come from Cappadocia (now in modern day Turkey) and his mother from Palestine. Following the death of his father his mother is thought to have returned to her home city of Lydda (now Lod and within Israel). Perhaps the flags of St George could be joined by a commensurate number of Palestinian and Turkish flags?
Green Girl
I’m sorry to hear how upset seeing your own countries flag makes you.
Your petty and smug attemps to link the Greek hero to the current favourite victims (palestinians) and invaders of the Greek land where St George was born (Anatolia was inhabited by greeks in the third century AD) are meaningless and easily dismissed by everyone with half a brain.
Perhaps peoples sympathys for ‘refugees’ is ever further eroded everytime they open the paper and see the latest atrocity they’ve commited, such as a couple days ago when one from Afganistan stabed a dad out walking his dog. Or pehaps a few weeks ago when one tried assaulting a child in Epping? The stories are relentless.
Dave