Council makes position 'clear' as Birmingham island still deluged with St George's and Union Jack flags

Kingstanding Circle, a roundabout in North Birmingham, has been crammed with many Union Jack and St George’s flags for months on end.

The flags were hung up on the island by a group called Raise the Colours Kingstanding.

Raise the Colours is a nationwide campaign to cover Britain in flags to “volunteer and show unity and patriotism across every town and city”, according to its website.

The group has also launched an online petition on change.org calling for a statue of King Charles I to be installed on Kingstanding Circle due to the King’s links to the area.

The petition reads: “Kingstanding derives its name from an intriguing moment in history involving King Charles I.

“Legend has it that during the English Civil War in 1642, King Charles stood in this location, presumably overlooking the area, hence the name ‘Kingstanding’.

“This vital piece of heritage not only adds character to our community but also connects us to our country's rich historical tapestry.”

It adds: “Yet, despite this historical significance, there is no monument or statue to commemorate King Charles I’s link to our area.

“Installing a statue would not only honour this history but also serve as an educational focal point for both locals and visitors.”

However, not everyone in the community is on board with the flags adorning the roundabout.

Birmingham City Council told the Express & Star they they are “aware of concerns raised by residents in Kingstanding about unauthorised flags being attached to street furniture.”

The council said in an update that they are “working closely with West Midlands Police following recent discussions on how best to manage these incidents safely and appropriately.”

The council said in a statement: “We continue to monitor locations across the city where community concerns are being reported, removing flags with a business-as-usual approach with removal prioritised where there are health and safety issues or a significant impact on local communities.

“The council’s position is clear, attaching items such as flags to lamp columns, signs or other public infrastructure is not permitted and these will be removed.

“People are free to fly or hang flags from their homes or gardens, but we ask that they are not attached or added to street furniture.

“We proudly fly the Union Flag outside the Council House every day and recognise the importance of that and the Flag of St George as symbols of national pride.

“Brummies are proud to be British and proud that this is a welcoming city celebrating many different cultures.”