Town Hall chiefs have said they will not be removing the Union Flags and St George’s Flags, which have been put in Bury, with a number of those in the Radcliffe area.
The council has now said that they will not be removing them as “residents are entitled to fly the flag.”
Some roundabout and pavements have also been painted with a red cross which poses a “safety risk” and will need to be repainted.
It comes as flags have been taken down by a number of local authorities this week, after campaigners attached them following an online movement called ‘Operation Raise the Colours’.
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(Image: Danny Crompton)
A spokesperson for Bury Council said: “Residents are entitled to fly the flag of England or Great Britain on their property.
“As a council, we fly the Union flag every day of the year at the town hall.
“The council will not be removing flags on council property, e.g. lamp-posts and fencing, except in cases where they present a safety risk or constitute an offence such as criminal damage.
“Where paint has been used to alter road markings such as roundabouts, this will need to be removed, as this is a road safety issue due to the fact that roundabouts are coated in skid-resistant paint and are a solid white colour to aid visibility.
“We ask Bury residents who wish to express their civic pride to do so in a responsible manner.”
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James Frith, Labour MP for Bury North also backed the move, citing it as a “common sense decision.”
He added: “As someone born on St George’s Day, I like to see the St George’s and Union flags flying.
“They celebrate England and our United Kingdom, and millions across Bury and Britain feel the same. But when flags are used to provoke or intimidate, that’s not acceptable.
“The council has made a common-sense decision.
“Removing shoddy paintwork that damages public property, while leaving flags flying, is the right balance – let us now focus on unity, not division.”
