Overview
- Union Jack and St George’s flags were reported overnight from Saturday to Sunday across central Oxford, including Folly Bridge, St Aldates, Speedwell Street and around Oxford Westgate.
- The council warns that unauthorised items on or near highways can reduce visibility, distract road users and create risks of injury or property damage.
- Removal teams are taking down flags during routine maintenance and are prioritising locations that present an immediate safety risk.
- The authority says it supports residents flying flags on their own property but opposes installations on street furniture or near roads.
- Similar action is under way elsewhere, with Derby City Council saying it has removed about 950 unauthorised flags this month, as at least one Oxford resident criticised the removals as “unpatriotic.”