TOWN councillors are to agree on Monday (September 15) if they should adopt a ‘position’ on the ‘Raise the Colours’ flags which have appeared in the past fortnight on lampposts throughout Wellington and Rockwell Green and in The Basins.

The council’s community committee is being asked if it wants to recommend a statement to be adopted by the full council on October 6 ‘in relation the recent flying of flags around the town’.

Council chief executive Dave Farrow said in a report to be discussed at the meeting that neighbourhood police Sgt Jon O’Connor had already pointed out ‘the displaying of a flag of itself is not a criminal offence, neither can the police assume the motivation for flying a flag’.

However, Mr Farrow said the police would investigate ‘if there were behaviours that could be deemed to be threatening, abusive, or racist’.

Mr Farrow said: “There are clearly strong views on both sides of the argument.

“Some members of the community are asking for the council to set out its position on this matter, and the purpose of this paper is to seek the committee’s views on that.

“The last few weeks have seen several Union Flags and St George’s Cross flags attached to lampposts around the town and painted on road markings such as zebra crossings and mini roundabouts.

“Many people have welcomed the displaying of the flags as celebrating national pride.

“However, others have expressed concern about them, citing links to far right groups promoting this nationally and giving examples of threatening, abusive, and racist behaviour toward them both in person and on social media if they have questioned why the flags are being flown.

“From a legal perspective Somerset Council has advised that it is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 to deface road markings.

“It will only take action to remove flags from streetlights or painted on road markings if there is a safety issue.

“If there is not, they will remain in place and be removed as part of its ongoing maintenance programme.”

Mr Farrow said a possible ‘position statement’ could point out the council itself promotes national pride through events such as the VE and VJ Day anniversaries this year, and the annual Remembrance Sunday parade and service.

He suggested it might include: “The council also understands that some individuals perceive the way that the flags are being displayed as intimidating or exclusionary, especially given reports that on occasions the displaying of the flags has been accompanied by incidents of threatening and abusive behaviour, including racist abuse, both in person and on social media, and acknowledges these concerns.

“The council supports individuals wanting to express their national pride by flying flags from their homes, businesses, or other personal property, but not from streetlights or on road markings.

“It also condemns any threatening or racist behaviour associated with the flying of flags in Wellington.

“It reaffirms its commitment, set out in its ‘Vision for the Town’ in 2022, for the town to be ‘an inclusive, safe, and secure town where everybody is supportive of each other and offers particular care for the more vulnerable members of our community’.

“The council is currently developing a community development plan and, as part of that work, will consider how to approach/address any issues arising out of this matter.”

The committee meets at 6 pm in the United Reformed Church Hall, in Fore Street, and includes 15 minutes on its agenda for people to speak directly to councillors, with three minutes allowed per speaker.