The London Borough of Bexley is proud to fly the St George Cross and Union Flags, as can currently be seen at the Civic Offices and many of our parks. 

We are careful to maintain them, both to reflect our sense of pride and to avoid health and safety issues.

However, St George Cross and Union Flags that have been put up in many streets around the Borough are now becoming weather-beaten and ragged. These flags were never intended to form a permanent feature of highway infrastructure.

As well as looking unsightly, these flags pose a heightened health and safety risk, for example of a flag blowing off and obscuring the view of a driver or cyclist, putting road and pavement users at greater risk of collision and injury. Allowing deteriorating items to remain attached to street furniture would create ongoing inspection, maintenance and replacement costs which would ultimately fall to local taxpayers.

The Council has therefore taken the decision to remove all of the St George Cross and Union flags on public streets around the Borough. This removal relates to flags on highways infrastructure. Residents and businesses are free to fly flags on their premises in accordance with national planning rules. 

We recognise the importance of demonstrating our pride in the St George Cross and Union flags, and we will continue to ensure these are flown across Council-run spaces.