Council to begin taking down hundreds of flags across city

BUT SELF-STYLED 'FLAG MEN OF DERBY' SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LET THE DECISION STOP THEM

- By ZENA HAWLEY

DERBY City Council will today begin the task of taking down hundreds of flags on lampposts, walls and other street furniture.

The authority announced last week that it was “time to bring this campaign of flag flying to an end”.

In the past month or so, Union and St George's flags have been appearing in many city suburbs - in common with other towns and cities across the UK.

But Councillor Sara Chambers, council cabinet member for communities, equalities and public safety, said: “It is time to bring this campaign of flag flying to an end as we need to begin to clear our lampposts for future seasonal and commemorative events.”

She said people were being given time to remove the flags but that they would start to be removed today from public spaces.

Any removed by the council would be stored at the Council House.

However, a duo who call themselves the Flag Men of Derby say they aren’t happy that Derby City Council is looking to take them down.

Damien Harris and Dan Warren claim to have put around 300 flags up in and around the Allenton area in the past three weeks because they are “proud of our country and have lost faith in the council and Government”.

Damien said he will report the flags as stolen, and said that other people should also report it because money had been donated online to buy them and they “belong to the people”.

He said: “We have put flags everywhere, such as in Chellaston Road, Osmaston Park Road and Harvey Road, using a ladder.