'Hundreds' of Union and St George flags taken down

The number of flags flying from lamp-posts has significantly reduced in the last year after hundreds were taken down, according to a city council.

In a public meeting on 19 October, Bristol City Council said the number of St George and Union flags on lamp-posts have fallen from more than 1,000 to 371.

Flags first started being put up across the country in 2025 following the nationwide social media movement Raise the Colours campaign.

Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Williams told the meeting the number of flags was steadily reducing every week and he confirmed that 49 had been removed over the previous seven days.

Since the summer of 2025, thousands of St George flags have appeared in towns and cities across England, with individuals and groups behind them saying they wanted to celebrate patriotism.

Bristol City Council said it has spent about £50,000 on removing flags across the city, with many spotted in areas like Bedminster and Southmead.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the cost does not include the amount of time allocated to officers to conduct site visits and respond to enquiries.

Williams, chair of the public health committee, said: "The trend is now positive and I want to gradually see all of those flags on public property removed.

"But I do think as a city and as a country, we do need to perhaps be more proud of our flags as symbols of national unity, and display them more properly at public buildings, as we do all the time here at City Hall," he added.

In North Somerset, the council said the issue cost taxpayers more than £2,900 between August 2025 and August this year.

North Somerset Council said: "Any cleaning of defaced road markings and the removal of unauthorised banners costs money, which takes valuable resources away from delivering other much valued council services."

A spokesperson added, the council is "proud to fly the Union flag from locations including the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare".

"However, this pride should be shown in ways that are respectful and safe."

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