Council issues warning about St George’s flag on roundabouts

Oldham Council has issued a warning to residents not to paint the St George’s flag on public property.

The warning comes after the symbol has appeared in several locations around Greater Manchester, including on a roundabout in Fitton Hill in Oldham.

Three roundabouts in Trafford and road junctions in Sale were also modified with a red cross to resemble the flag. Oldham Council has warned against graffiti in the borough, especially on road markings where they could pose a danger to motorists and pedestrians.

A spokesperson said: “We have had reports of flags being painted on some of our buildings and roads. As a council, we are proud to fly the Union flag every day, and we of course support free expression – including the flying of flags from private homes and businesses.

“However, painting flags over public property is illegal. Marking roads and roundabouts like this is a criminal offence under Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980, which requires them to be removed due to safety and legal requirements.

“It costs public money to repair the damage, which could be better spent on vital services. It also presents a safety issue on roundabouts, which have strict guidance on how they should look.

“It is important that we honour the Union and St George’s flags and fly them properly – spraying them on the ground does not do them justice.”

Those responsible for painting the St George’s flags in other areas of the country have claimed they were motivated by ‘pride and patriotism’.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham last week suggested that people painting the crosses might be ‘seeking confrontation’. Speaking on BBC Radio, he said: “You can obviously display a flag if that’s your choice but I don’t know, I do wonder about the times we’re living in.

“If people want to display it, fine on their own property, but I don’t think you’ve got the right to go out and paint public property.”