Nottinghamshire County Council’s leader says he wants a police investigation launched after some of the authority’s Union Flag banners were vandalised with black paint.
The banners, located outside the Jaguar Service Centre on Nottingham Road, near Chilwell, have been left tarnished, with black writing appearing to be painted or spray-painted on either side.
One side reads ‘sponsored by’ and the other side says ‘the taxpayer’.
The banners are part of a £75,000 project announced by Nottinghamshire County Council last October, in which 164 flags would be hung on lampposts along Nottinghamshire roads.
As of Wednesday (13 May), the defaced banners are still up, but the council says it will be visiting them in the “coming days”.
Council leader Mick Barton said: “I want it investigating. It will be reported to the police, and we will be looking for it to be investigated by the police, as it is vandalism of our property.”
Councillor Teresa Cullen (Broxtowe Alliance), who sits as an opposition member on the authority but represents the area on Broxtowe Borough Council, said she ‘wasn’t surprised’ the banners were vandalised.
She said: “Feelings are running quite high with the [local] election results last week, arguments about whether Reform are getting a bigger foothold or have reached their peak.
“The flags are a waste of money. I think they make me feel uncomfortable… These flags are very divisive – I’m not surprised they’ve been vandalised.”
Cllr Cullen said the banners are located quite high up, where it is clear someone has “determinedly” vandalised them.
She continued: “I would be concerned for the safety of anyone who climbs up to deface one of these. Feelings are running high, and people have different ways of showing that.
“I don’t think people should be vandalising anything, or climbing a pole and putting themselves in danger.”
A Nottinghamshire County Council spokesman said: “Via East Midlands has been made aware of the defaced banners and will visit the site in the coming days.
“A decision will then be made either to repair or replace the banners from our existing stock.”
