by Noor Qurashi, Daily Mail
A Lib Dem council has vowed to remove England flags from lamp posts during the World Cup – deeming them ‘inappropriate’.
The leader of Cambridge County Council said it was ‘fantastic’ to see people showing support but insisted it must be done in a ‘safe, inclusive way and with permission’.
It comes as flags have become a staple fixture on street lights in Cambridgeshire ahead of England’s game against DR Congo tonight.
Lucy Nethsingha, council leader, said ‘simply putting a ladder up against a lamp-post is incredibly reckless and risks lives’.
She told the BBC: ‘While some might love to show a flag on their own house or car, it’s not appropriate to attach them to a public lamp-post.
‘We will be taking down all the flags attached without permission. We are looking at ways to prevent this in the future.’
Billy Crotty, who last year hung hundreds of flags along the A1198, has described the policy as ‘overkill’.
It follows the council previously removing flags Mr Crotty had raised on a stretch of the road near Bassingbourn.
The local authority is one of several across the country that have opposed flags being flown on public infrastructure.
Green-run Bristol city council told residents not to put up England flags because they would not be ‘welcoming’ and posed health and safety dangers.
However, ‘the country’s most patriotic street’ – Torrington Avenue – appeared to defy the warning by fluttering them across the length of the road.