Flags placed without authorisation along the Weston-super-Mare seafront have been removed for a third time after volunteers re-installed them and were challenged by a town councillor. The items were attached to lamp posts by social media groups Flagman UK and Bristol Flagger, prompting repeated action from North Somerset Council on safety and legal grounds.
Confrontation on the promenade
During the most recent installation, volunteers were approached by Weston-super-Mare Town Council Deputy Mayor Caroline Reynolds. A video of the encounter posted online shows Cllr Reynolds telling those erecting the flags that she did not want them on the seafront because she believed they sent the wrong message to both local people and visitors.
"I don't want to see these flags up in this area because I think it sends a bad message to the local people and the visitors of this town. It sounds like we're not welcoming when we really are welcoming in Weston-super-Mare, so we really don't want to see them."
North Somerset Council has repeatedly removed the flags, saying they were attached to roads and roadsides without permission and therefore posed a safety risk. The authority has also warned that the cost of clearing defaced road markings and removing unauthorised banners takes resources away from other council services.
Council stance and safety argument
Cllr Hugh Malyan, the council's cabinet member for highways and transport, reiterated the council's position that while it recognises the importance of national symbols, displays must be respectful, safe and lawful. In previous statements the council noted it flies the Union Flag from several official locations in Weston-super-Mare, including the Town Hall, and that any attachments to highway infrastructure that could obstruct drivers or fall into the carriageway would be removed.
The row has its roots in a dispute between grassroots flagging groups that erect patriotic emblems and the council's responsibility for public safety and use of highways. The repetition of the installations has led to a cycle of removal and re-erection, escalating tensions and generating public interest as people walk the seafront.
- Groups involved: Flagman UK and Bristol Flagger
- Authority removing flags: North Somerset Council
- Local councillors involved: Deputy Mayor Caroline Reynolds; Cllr Hugh Malyan (cabinet member for highways and transport)
- Council concerns: Safety, lack of authorisation, cost to council services
| Issue | Current status |
|---|---|
| Number of removals | Three (flags removed for a third time) |
| Location | Weston-super-Mare seafront (lamp posts) |
| Reason given by council | Unauthorised attachments pose safety risk; cost to clear and remove |
The incident has prompted debate locally about the right way to express civic pride and national identity in public spaces. Some residents and visitors may see the flags as an expression of patriotism, while others — including the town council deputy mayor — say the display can give an unwelcome impression contrary to community values and the town’s reputation for hospitality.
For traders and small businesses that rely on the seafront for trade, maintaining a sense of welcome and safety is important during the busy seasons. The recurring flag episodes risk distracting from that and consume council resources that could otherwise support services residents value.
North Somerset Council has said unauthorised flags attached to the highway will continue to be removed. The authority argues that lawful and organised displays — such as the Union Flag flown from civic buildings — are the appropriate way to celebrate national symbols without compromising public safety.
The dispute remains unresolved: volunteers have shown determination to re-erect the flags, while the council has signalled it will persist in removing items installed without permission. For now, the seafront is back to its usual rhythm — families, walkers and holidaymakers reclaim the space once council staff have cleared the unauthorised banners.
