Killjoy council axes England World Cup flags from lampposts - saying only 'safe and inclusive' displays will make the cut

Killjoy council axes England World Cup flags from lampposts - saying only 'safe and inclusive' displays will make the cut

A killjoy council has axed England World Cup flags from lampposts, saying only "safe and inclusive" displays will make the cut in future. Cambridgeshire County Council announced it will take down all Union Jack and St George's flags fixed to lampposts without proper authorisation. The flags have been appearing throughout England over the past 12 months and are now appearing up and down the country to back England during the World Cup. Council leader Lucy Nethsingha started off by appreciating the patriotic show of support in her county, adding it was "fantastic" to witness such support for England. However, she stressed any such expressions must occur "in a safe, inclusive way and with permission". The Liberal Democrat-led authority confirmed it is also searching for methods to prevent future unauthorised flag installations on public infrastructure, including lamposts. Billy Crotty, who attached hundreds of flags to lamp-posts along the A1198 near Bassingbourn last year, dismissed the council's approach as "overkill". The council had previously taken down his display on that stretch of road as Mr Crotty admitted defeat and let "things run their natural course". "We did it when we did it, it had maximum impact, (and) they looked nice. The council's decided to take them down, but we always said we'd take them down anyway," he said. He added: "You don't leave Christmas lights up all year, so they weren't something we were just going to leave up indefinitely." Meanwhile, Ms Nethsingha argued the process of installing flags poses serious dangers to the public. "Simply putting a ladder up against a lamp-post is incredibly reckless and risks lives," she told the BBC. LATEST FLAG NEWS: Woke council removes 'divisive' LGBTQ+ Pride flag after planning blunder exposed Council restarts crackdown on Union Jacks after public fury forced staff to stop tearing flags down Keir Starmer will fly St George's flag from No10 for next England game amid 'plastic patriot' row