Flag graffiti clean up in Plymouth may cost tens of thousands
There are fears that flags are being used as emblems for far-right movements.
The bill for cleaning up Plymouth’s crossings and roundabouts which have been painted with a St George’s Cross could run into tens of thousands of pounds.
Plymouth City Council say “Each one could cost up to £660 to repaint, due to the need for specialist materials and traffic management measures to protect our staff working in live traffic environments."
In a statement on Wednesday, the council said: “The unauthorised markings will now be assessed and removed in order of priority based on the risk to road safety."
After a sign at Peverell Park Surgery in Plymouth was defaced with red paint staff said on their facebook page: “The saddest part is this will now cost money to repair/replace, money that could have been spent so much better. We don’t get government handouts or have an unlimited budget to clear up after criminals.”
The Labour-led Plymouth City Council stressed that The Highways Act 1980 states it is an offence to affix items to structures on the highway without the consent of the highway authority, without reasonable excuse and the council will remove any such items.