COMMUNITY tensions in Wellington were being ramped up on Tuesday night (September 30) with the return of ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ activists.

Union and St George Cross flags which had been removed by a vigilante on Sunday were flying again in the town centre.

Four men in hoodies were seen using a flat bed truck and a ladder to restore the flags to lampposts through Fore Street and High Street.

A social media-driven campaign had seen several dozen flags put up early in September on the Taunton Road approach to Wellington through the Cades roundabout and town centre and out to Exeter Road, Rockwell Green.

But those in the centre of Wellington were taken down by somebody early on Sunday following Wellington’s annual carnival on Saturday night.

However, the activists were back again on Tuesday night to replace them and they even added a few more.

Somerset Council has appealed for people not to raise flags on, or deface, public property, but said it would only remove them as part of planned maintenance works unless they became a hazard to pedestrians or motorists.

Town councillors will at their monthly meeting on Monday (October 6) discuss a ‘position statement’ on the flags.

Council chief executive Dave Farrow said members of the community had been asking for the council to set out its position on the matter.

Mr Farrow said while many people had welcomed the displaying of the flags as celebrating national pride, there were others who had expressed concern.

Councillors will be recommended to approve a statement supporting people who want to express national pride by flying flags on their own property but recognising that some individuals perceive those on lampposts as ‘intimidating or exclusionary’.

The statement would also condemn any ‘threatening or racist behaviour associated with the flying of flags’.

Avon and Somerset Police said it recognised the community tensions being caused in Wellington by the flag raising and officers were in constant liaison with the town council and other partners on the issue.

A spokesperson said: “Following a national trend and social media encouragement to display flags in prominent locations, the local policing team is monitoring community tensions and disagreements over flag placement.

“Landowners/local authorities are advised to make their own decisions on flag removal as in itself this is not a criminal offence.

“That said, the police will not tolerate any form of hate-related behaviour or criminal damage that may accompany flag raising and these offences will be investigated.”