A collection of high flying St George’s and Union Jack flags have recently appeared on lampposts across York, sparking confusion and debate among residents.
The campaign has been linked to Flag Force UK, an organisation that says its aim is to “restore pride in where we live.”
In response, City of York Council has confirmed that most of the flags will remain in place, though a small number are due to be removed. The authority has however expressed “serious concerns” about installations without proper safety measures.
The flags began appearing last week in areas including Tang Hall, the A1079 Grimston Bar roundabout, and Hull Road. Residents initially questioned their purpose, with one person posting on Facebook on Sunday (17 August):
“I’ve noticed a lot of England flags have been put up on lamp posts around York. Some are really high! Just wondered what the story behind them is?”
That same day, Flag Force UK launched a GoFundMe page titled “Flags for the community of York.” The group describes itself as a peaceful, friendly, and patriotic group, inspired by “places around the world where flags fly high and public spaces are cherished.”
Its campaign statement reads:
“We are a group of proud locals united in showing York and the rest of the country how proud we are of our heritage. Our aim is to bring hope to local communities, reminding people that all is not lost and that they are not alone.”
The fundraiser has already passed £12,000, with donations going directly towards flags, poles, and cable ties.
The group also takes requests for roads to be flagged, and says members have been litter picking alongside their flag installations to help improve the city.
On its website, Flag Force UK adds:
“Whether its litter picking, checking in on your elderly neighbour, donating to food banks or helping the homeless, we can all do more to improve the areas we live in and create a better United Kingdom for everyone.”
The group argues that recent years, marked by the pandemic, the closure of pubs and local venues, and the cost-of-living crisis, have left communities “atomised and insular.” They believe initiatives like theirs can help bring people back together.
While York Council says most of the flags will stay, the authority confirmed that some will be removed along a short stretch of road near York Racecourse, due to several high-profile events taking place this week.
A council spokesperson said:
“We do, however, have some serious concerns about the safety of people doing this without the appropriate approvals or equipment. Scaling a lamppost with a ladder puts you at risk directly, but it can also be dangerous for people walking or using the road too. We use cherry pickers when doing work on lampposts to keep everyone safe.
“There’s a proper process for requesting banners, signs or flags to be added to lampposts, working alongside our colleagues from Make It York. This means that we know where it’s safe to add advertising, for example, because the lampposts have been properly tested to check the weight they can bear. The banners, signs or flags are attached to the lamppost safely and the correct equipment is used to do the job.”
The council added that it welcomes community volunteers and litter pickers, and encourages anyone interested to get in touch. More information on community litter picking is available via the council’s website.
