Council to remove Minehead 'Raise the Colours' flags and recover costs from campaigners

THE social media-driven campaign ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ this week reached Minehead with dozens of flags appearing on lampposts along the sea front.

A man known as ‘Flagman’ and his crew strung Union flags and the St George’s Cross on lampposts from the Jubilee Gardens Café to the harbour when they visited on Tuesday night (October 13).

Afterward, they released a tourism-style video on social media showing the flags going up and including a tour of the town.

But, Somerset Council on Thursday said it would remove the flags and recover the cost involved from ‘Flagman’.

Minehead has previously seen flags on Ellicombe roundabout and along Seaward Way, but on a smaller scale to the ‘Flagman’ operation.

‘Flagman’ said on social media: “After so many requests, we just had to come down.

“We flagged the seafront all the way along.

“What an absolutely stunning place.

“If you have never been to Minehead, get yourself down here.”

The campaign, which has proven bitterly divisive in many communities, encourages flying flags as a show of national pride and patriotism, as happens in countries such as America.

But, Left wing groups claimed the campaign is driven by protests against illegal immigration.

A Somerset Council spokesperson said people were welcome to fly flags from their own property but attaching them without permission to public property was unlawful.

They said: “It is important to remember many residents do not support these unauthorised public displays.

“If we want Somerset to remain a welcoming and vibrant place, we need to ensure flags are used to foster belonging, not division.”

Minehead Town Council said a community engagement event in the Irnham Road community centre at 7.30 pm on Tuesday (October 20) would allow residents to give their views about the flags.

A spokesperson said: “We encourage anybody interested in the future of the town to attend.”