Patriotic paintwork displaying England flags on a zebra crossing is set to be removed at public expense, sparking debate about appropriate displays of national pride.
Second incident of crossing decoration
St George's crosses have recently appeared on a zebra crossing in Church Street, Audley, located in North Staffordshire. This marks the second occurrence of such decoration this year, with red paint first being added to the crossing back in August according to reports from StokeonTrentLive.
Council takes action over safety concerns
Staffordshire County Council, which is run by Reform UK, has confirmed it will remove the unauthorized paintwork. Councillor Patrick Allen, cabinet support member for highways north, expressed appreciation for patriotism but emphasised the council's position against painting highway assets.
He stated: "Although we appreciate displays of patriotism, we cannot condone painting highways assets in this way because this presents safety and insurance issues."
Taxpayers to foot the bill
The removal work will be conducted "at the expense of the taxpayer" when time and resources become available. This has raised questions about the cost implications of such unauthorized public art installations.
Councillor Allen encouraged residents to find alternative methods to show their national pride, suggesting: "We encourage residents to show their love for their county in other ways that do not involve painting the highway, such as flying a flag, if done safely."
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between community expression and public infrastructure maintenance, with safety concerns ultimately taking priority over decorative displays of patriotism.
