Pub owner ordered to remove England flags for ‘health and safety’

The owner of The Sportsman in Whitworth, Rochdale, was told to remove decorations by his local council because it "contravenes the highway code".

The flags, which were hanging above the street, were deemed "hazardous" by Lancashire County Council despite being securely tied to lamps on the pub’s rooftop and to trees across the road.

Steve had initially put the England bunting up to celebrate the Queens 90th on June 11 and during the Euro 2016.

He told the Manchester Evening News : "I put up the three strips of 30m flags on June 11 to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and for the football tournament.

But I got a call from the council saying I needed to take it down as it contravenes the Highways Act. I could not believe it.

"I was gutted. I told her that she should send the request over in writing."

This is not the first time a footy fan has been criticised for displaying the England flag.

Last weekend, a dad was branded racist in a note left on the windscreen of his England flagged car.

Steve is also angry that the council had responded to the health and safety risk of "plastic flag" over the flooding that occurs after heavy rain because of poor drainage along the the street.

He said: "I explained that the drains outside the pub have been blocked and flooding all over the road for the past 18 months but nothing has been done to sort that out.”

"Surely that is more of a problem than plastic flags?

"The flags are not going to kill someone, they are plastic.

"It’s sad it has come to this. There is enough bad in the world and this was just a bit of cheer, but now we are being forced to take it down.”

The Sportsman pub has received a lot of support on Facebook after a photo was posted by angry regulars

The picture, taken outside the pub, shows the defiant group giving the finger underneath the England flag bunting.

The post has received 1,000 likes and shares.

A number of people have questioned the council’s verdict and feel it was driven by "political correctness" or "anti-English" sentiment.

Facebook user, Steven Trevaskis commented: "Health and safety gone nuts, bet there was none of that during V.E day celebrations in 1945.”

Niki Leanne added: "If it offends someone that's their problem this is England and that is our flag it's the Euros it's in support of the country. If hey weren't so obsessed with political correctness things wouldn't be half as bad.(sic)”

One person even offered to buy Steve more flags to put up outside his pub.

Berna Cachia offered: "Would you like some more?? I would just like to say I work for Carlsberg and all my shops Muslim, White, Asians, Chinese all have flags and are greatly supporting the games why do councils feel the need to cause racism when there isn't any! (sic)”

Lynette Oshea added: "Where do we live????? England !! Or somewhere else this is a joke yes put more up for the cheek of it ask them who’s this offended because they’re clearly not from England. (sic)”

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council explained: "We’re all for people showing their support for the England team, it’s just that in this case the bunting has been put up over a busy A-road and we wouldn’t want the landlord or the council to be held responsible if it came down and caused an accident.”

(dailystar.co.uk)