Money for ‘divisive’ Nottinghamshire flags could be spent on issues like homelessness instead

People in Nottingham say the £75,000 being spent on putting 150 Union flags up could be better spent on issues like homelessness and the NHS.

An online petition has been launched in response to Nottinghamshire County Council’s plans for flags across the county. 

The petition gained over 6,000 signatures in its first week, but is yet to receive a response.

Various campaigners say the installation of the flags “do not reflect the inclusive community spirt” of the county and call for the council to scrap the decision. 

Other members of the public also agreed that the funds that would go towards the installation of the flags could be better spent elsewhere, such as supporting underfunded services. 

“[We should] make a better place for people by uniting them.”

Fareah Ali

Although Nottinghamshire County Council’s plans do not affect Nottingham itself, people here have still been sharing their views given the proliferation of Union flags in the city.

Rhea Clements, 38, owner of Handmade Nottingham and resident of the city is vocal on social media about the recent trend of National flags appearing in the city. 

She said: “We are not a country that has always flown flags. It’s not something we have done.”

When asked for an alternative way to spend the funding, Rhea was adamant on putting it towards the NHS. 

“There’s a lot of things in this country that need funding but at the forefront of my personal mind is the NHS.”

She continued: “It’s a struggle to see anyone, I know other people struggle as well, for me, at the minute it’s going to be the NHS.”

A recent council report stated that displaying the national flag in prominent public spaces would hopefully “strengthen community spirit, celebrate national events” and promote “the collective values of the United Kingdom.” 

Richard Zupa, 55, a resident of Sutton-in-Ashfield, believes in the symbolic nature of flags, he said: “Everyone should be proud of their community and their nationality whether it be English, Irish, Scottish, Pakistani. It’s where you come from you should have the pride in.” 

Zupa agreed that the installation of the flags was costly and not an efficient use of taxpayers money.

Instead the funds should be used to tackle the ongoing homelessness problem in the city.

He added: “You don’t realise how bad it is, but when someone digs a bit deeper you think how would anyone allow this to happen.”

In agreement over the use of funds to be used to tackle homelessness were students,  Aleaeh Cameron-Dawson, 21, and Fareah Ali, 20. 

Fareah questioned the council’s plans: “I think their intention is wrong. They are trying to marginalise and create that gap between people. 

“I think if they did it before and had the correct intentions, then go for it, I would of had a flag everywhere, because why not?” 

She added: “The Council should use that money to get homeless people off the streets. If you can’t build longways build upwards and make a better place for people by uniting them.”

There is yet to be a response from the council or the local government association but signatures for the petition continue to rise as it is backed by local campaign group, Nottingham Stand Up To Racism.    

The group said the installation of the flags is “not only financially burdensome but also symbolically divisive”. 

Continuing to add how the issue has come at a time when “we should strive for unity rather than deepening divisions among residents.”

At time of publication, Nottinghamshire County Council’s plans are still set to go ahead.