Harlow Green member starts petition calling for flags to be removed from lamp posts in Harlow
News / Tue 10th Mar 2026 at 07:06am
A MEMBER of the Harlow Green Party has set up a petition calling for the removal of flags across the town.
Howard Beaumont’s petition reads: Instruct Essex Highways to immediately remove all flags from lampposts and street furniture near to public roads on safety grounds.
Instruct Essex Highways to immediately remove all flags from lampposts and street furniture near to public roads on safety grounds.
We would also like Essex county council to prosecute any known individuals who placed these flags, or attempt to do so in the future, in an attempt to recover Essex County Council’s cost of removal.
Placement of flags without consent is in breach of section 132 of the Highways Act 1980.
Justification: The Flags were put up using nylon ties that degrade in sunlight. Flag are now hanging on by a thread and in some cases they have fallen off near carriageways or fallen down the lampposts obscuring road safety signs.
In addition to this resident’s have been putting themselves and other in danger by removing flags themselves. hotographic evidence of this has been supplied to Councillor Mark Platt.Relevant Area(s):
Opening Date: Monday, 9 March 2026
Closing Date: Friday, 17 April 2026
The petition is below.
Adam
2026-03-10 09:09:49
Ahhh the greens nothing but insane communists. weird how they want you to have a license for a dog but not for hard drugs. They are like the labour and conservative party people who are stuck living in the last century with last century solutions to our issues.
Me, Harlow
2026-03-10 09:20:32
May as well leave them until the world cup is over? At least then there is a decent reason for them to be up than the reason at the moment. But they should come down soonish because they're falling off and they will get grubby and ripped imo and make the town look even dirtier.
Kevin
2026-03-10 11:12:55
Surely bigger things to worry about
shel
2026-03-10 11:19:46
Where are the Green's priorities? surely looking after the environment - protecting and nurturing green spaces for people and wildlife, promoting/organising campaigns to clear litter, fly tipping etc. Agreed, some aspect of the flag flying produces litter, but removing flags is just not a priority.
AB
2026-03-10 12:13:11
Remove the flags now! They look terrible and negate all Dan swords' efforts.
Keith
2026-03-10 12:39:26
Yes they seem to cheer some people up.The authorities will have a hard time in future though trying to prosecute anyone for attaching anything to public infrastrucure as it is they themselves who have brought the law into disrepute by their lack of action either positive or negative.Yes they could retrospectively grant permission or prosecute the individuals concerned but the lack of either solution just brings another law into disrespute.Party politics aside.
Dave
2026-03-10 13:34:27
Me and the lads have been taking them down all over town 🤣 and theres nothing you can do about it. Adam showing he doesnt know what communism is 🤣 And here comes Val crying about others thinking differently. Calm down love, our veterans dont want our flag put upside down on a filthy lamp post. Its disrespectful
Seamus
2026-03-10 14:52:25
"Justification: The Flags were put up using nylon ties that degrade in sunlight." Aren't the greens constantly telling us plastics are a forever item? Aahh, local elections are coming and to appease their new possible block vote, the greens want the nations flag removed. Nudge nudge wink wink
Sidney
2026-03-10 15:00:28
Good to see the Green Party actually trying to do something about the flags. Any remaining vestige of genuine unity and patriotism has long been drained from the flags. They are now used and abused by a bunch of racist bully boys to push an ignorant, bigoted right wing agenda. For some reason our council seems to be endorsing this by their actions (or complete lack of ) I can only assume that many of them share those views. The argument that it’s not about racism, the often heard “I’m not a racist but …” response is just such nonsense. The people who put them up are doing so to try to shove their ignorant views on everyone else. It’s got nothing to do with freedom or democracy - just bullying and intimidation that is unfortunately allowed to continue and fester all around us.
Sidney
2026-03-10 16:17:48
Carolyn, I have nothing against our national flag or a love for the place where you live. Unfortunately the flag is being used as a way of pushing a grim racist agenda. I hope there is a time soon when our flags return to being a symbol of unity and tolerance and not a means by which the racists and bigots try to push their vile views upon others.
Tidy up the town
2026-03-10 16:35:54
It's about time they came down, they look an absolute mess, cheap Chinese tat cable tied at half mast by plastic potatriots, and a good percentage of them are upside down. There are long standing time honoured rules about displaying our national flag with decorum and respect, something which seems to have been forgotten about by the stella'n'stepladder brigade.
Johnnie
2026-03-10 16:50:38
I agree with Michael, let's make them permanent. Sounds a great idea and most importantly, at no cost to the taxpayer. That has to be the paramount consideration. Sounds a great confusion to fly the flags with official blessing then nobody can claim it is 'racist' or whatever. How about a petition for that. Somebody already mentioned that in other districts where they were removed, they were quickly replaced. Therefore, it is clear removal is not viable and will use taxpayer funds (unacceptable use of funds) that should be used for real issues like potholes and not childish theatricals. Let's do it properly. I will be very elevating for residents. I think most would support this as a way forward. Maybe it should be proposed to Essex and Harlow Councils. No cost to the taxpayer, no problem.
Chas
2026-03-10 17:15:06
You often hear in these columns about consultation.Nobody consulted the residents if they wanted flags all around the town flying from lampposts. At least the Greens are giving residents a chance to express their views. If you don’t like them then sign the petition. If enough people sign then perhaps our invisible and silent local Essex Councillors might start to take some action. I don’t think that anybody is asking that the County send out a special team to take them down just do what Hertfordshire has done. State clearly the flags are illegal and will be taken down as part of the streetlamp maintenance programme. The next thing the Greens should do is to ask at a Harlow Council meeting if all these flags all across the town require planning permission
Dave
2026-03-10 18:05:43
Johnnie, me ans the lads are taken them down tonight and theres nothing you can do about it 🤣
Carolyn
2026-03-10 18:45:54
They will just be put up again and there is nothing you can do about it, Dave!! Don't you have anything better to do? Pretty sad life you lead, climbing up lampposts! 🤣
Mr George
2026-03-10 18:56:32
Carolyn, same can be applied to the people who climb the lampposts to put the flags up? Anyway, nice one Dave! Keep going.
Jazzy
2026-03-10 19:09:05
Absolute cheap Temu flags that look horrible, and clearly there by backwards racist ignorant thugs pretending to be civil. Well done Dave please take the ones down at the roundabout near the bus garage, and call me I'm happy to help lol Clearly against the law to put up things and council needs to make a statement saying so, I do get however they might be trying to save money but surely something can be done to prevent the idiots putting them back on!
Julia
2026-03-10 19:55:41
I do discern that if one troubles to purvey the YH Facebook pages, one might reasonably conclude that far more Harlow residents are enthused with the news of M&S return to Harlow than this very insignificant, even superfluous flag issue. I do believe people's imaginations are far more attuned and stimulated by David Lloyd and M&S elevating our town than this trivial flag business. None of my friends or colleagues even mentions it. Incidentally, does anybody know if the new M&S food section will offer fresh game? Will save me a trip to Church's in Epping... reducing my carbon emissions... very Green, what!
David Forman
2026-03-10 20:15:10
Obviously the Greens have worked out that Reform are pushing immigration and patriotism in the Mark Hall ward in the run-up to the local elections. Both my wife Waida and I described this scenario at a Green Party meeting in Sumners last November in the Herald pub. Not bad, only taken the Greens four months to accept our analysis. Their original campaign strategy was parking, plus some potholes. Perspective and timing is everything in politics.
Gaz
2026-03-10 20:22:45
All this talk about the flag itself is a distraction. The fact of the matter is some former BNP member has gathered up 30 odd wronguns in this town to climb lampposts, paint roundabouts and vandalise the church near bush fair. That’s far more concerning than the plastic they leave behind.
David Forman
2026-03-10 20:33:09
Nice to see 182 signatures on the petition including the following Labour councillors: Michael Houlihan, Mark Ingall, Jake Shepherd, Tony Edwards Nancy Watson, Kay Morrison. Jake Shepherd and Mark Ingall are up for re-election in May, so please vote for them. Please don't let Sir Keir Starmer know otherwise he'll send round the Labour Together boys to have words with them.
Yvonne
2026-03-10 20:34:25
Look forget all this flag rubbish. People in Harlow want to see the town regenerated and improved. The rest is total BS. Only Dan Swords and his team can deliver on what counts for our town. Ignore all these side issues that most people don't give a damn about. Dan is the Man. Make no mistake.
Joe S
2026-03-10 20:42:32
I’ve seen the torn, twisted and tattered flags these people hang outside their houses. Clearly the work of those who have great pride in their country with no ulterior motive whatsoever.
Micheal
2026-03-10 21:13:58
They’re ramping up nationalism so we send our sons to war for a multi-national cabal of pedos
Mike
2026-03-10 21:24:40
Damn the flags, this government and probably Chris Vince tonight voted to curtail our ancient right to trial by jury established since Magna Carta and the bedrock of the constitutional rights throughout the English speaking world. Let's focus on what is truly serious not this flag BS. Our basic rights are under attack from this government.
Joe S
2026-03-10 22:06:57
Carolyn, I have seen Dave climb lampposts and there is no way you or anyone you know could beat him. He is simply too fast. To even attempt would take years of hard work, dedication and training. Wake up at 5am, cold shower grindset mentality wouldn’t even scratch the surface of the dedication it would take. In fact, Dave can climb three lampposts before the fat old w@nkers who put them up can say “I'm not racist but”. Dave claims to work in a group, he is simply being humble. He can cover the same ground as a small army by his lonesome. Try as you might, you simply cannot stop him from taking down the flags.
Carolyn
2026-03-10 23:22:19
Joe S , you completely miss the point. I am not talking about Dave or anyone one else. It has been seen across the country, that removing the flags only leads to they being put up again. It is very stupid. I just don't think we should waste taxpayer money. Councils have more important priorities than this nonsense and car and mouse games.
Joe S
2026-03-11 07:47:20
“ They will just be put up again and there is nothing you can do about it, Dave!! Don't you have anything better to do? Pretty sad life you lead, climbing up lampposts! 🤣” Carolyn these are your words are they not - directly referencing the heroic Dave in his efforts to rid our town of cheap Chinese plastic, not the inept council. Tut tut no one likes a liar.
Graham
2026-03-11 08:26:23
Nothing to do with Harlow Council. No taxpayer money should be spent on this stupidity. No one cares about this. Councils should focus on real issues.
Paul Murphy
2026-03-11 08:48:21
The council’s talk about “saving money” rings hollow when our streets are still lined with these flags. Anyone looking to invest in the town or move into a quiet, welcoming neighbourhood will think twice if the first thing they see is a public display that drags up an ugly history. It sends the message that the area is comfortable with groups who have pushed hateful, extremist politics in the past. That’s not the reputation residents deserve, and it certainly doesn’t help attract good‑quality homes, businesses, or community investment.
Chris
2026-03-11 08:57:13
Signed. Flags are an embarrassment.
Yvonne
2026-03-11 09:36:36
Paul Murphy, didn't seem to have any negative impact for David Lloyd, IKEA or M&S, which prove your argument hollow. They are concerned about market potential and the capacity of the Council not a few flags. Harlow is definitely improving and will attract more big names.
Paul
2026-03-11 09:53:37
I think all the unpatriotic snowflakes and far left nutters better get ready for every lamppost to be flying the flag once Reform win the May council elections. Will be great.
Mick
2026-03-11 12:17:36
Hahaha Paul if Reform are willing to send tax payer money to China to pay for them I’d be in favour. Big up the reds.
Jon
2026-03-11 14:45:17
I agree with Mick. Can't wait to see all the moaners when Reform win and all the flags are back up flying proudly.
Dan Long
2026-03-11 15:13:35
The only thing that needs removing from his town is the green party here in Harlow. The green party turn me into the incredible hulk every time I hear them going on because I end up turning green.
Dan Long
2026-03-11 15:14:39
This town.
Dave
2026-03-11 16:35:50
Took 3 down in 10 minutes today 🤣 @Carolyn, i wont have our veterans flag disrespected. I served for 10 years and its a disgrace that you seem fine with this disrespect. You're not patriots, you're yobs. Join the army if you want to be a real patriot.
Carolyn
2026-03-11 17:57:04
I think most people, judging by the Your Harlow Facebook pages are far more interested in the new M&S, the new revamped underpasses and the town centre regeneration than this side show about a few flags. Just saying.
Kim O'connor
2026-03-11 18:59:23
I put this question to the green party on a couple of occasions.. you want to see the British flag removed, and yet is it OK to fly other cultures flags... I've had no response what so ever. If any greens would like to respond to this serious question, I would be very grateful.
Seamus
2026-03-11 20:05:03
You know, for some saying they are offensive, I wonder how much of that is Hyperbole ? I went to Epping today and from the Clock Tower roundabout right upto the M11 roundabout and on every lampost was flags. English flags, Welsh flags, Scottish flags, Union Jack flags and Irish flags (I pressume they had trouble getting Northern Ireland flags) 3...2...1...go
Mr George
2026-03-11 23:39:40
Paul. Please don't try and pretend you don't know why.
Mick
2026-03-12 08:29:46
Absolutely Jon, big up the CCP.
Marie
2026-03-12 08:30:18
This country is under attack by it's own Government.
Paul Murphy
2026-03-12 08:36:41
A big up to Dave for taking flags down. I was out last night taking down loads myself,
LMHR
2026-03-12 08:43:02
Seamus, in another thread you bolstered your anti-racist credentials when criticised with a firm stance against the BNP. Funny how when that group rebrands to BF and then orders their yobs to start climbing lampposts and painting roundabouts you play defence for them. You whine at the notion of an anti-racist event yet turn a blind eye to open bigots.Look into who funds operation raise the colours. Not a good look mate.
Kim O'connor
2026-03-12 08:49:14
IM ASKING THE GREENS AGAIN NICELY. TO A RESPONSE TO MY QUESTION. ??? WOULD YOU IGNORE THIS QUESTION ON THE DOOR STEP. ?? IF YOU DONT RESPOND PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHY . HAVE YOU A TWO TIER SYSTEM GOING.
LMHR
2026-03-12 08:51:48
Kim, I can’t speak for the Green Party but I’d assume it’s because of the Neo-Nazi’s funding the hanging of the flag from lampposts and painting roundabouts (also vandalising the church in bush fair with St. George’s crosses) rather than the flag itself.
Kim O'connor
2026-03-12 10:22:01
LMHR, THATS NOT AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION, WHICH YOU OBVIOUSLY CARNT ANSWER, ALONG WITH THE GREENS. FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IS VERY DISGRACEFUL,TO THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THESES FLAGS AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO HANG THEM. OUR FOREFATHERS DID NOT SIT IN TRENCHES FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO SAY WE CARNT HANG OUR FLAGS. PERHAPS YOU COULD ANSWER MY QUESTION, YOU DONT WANT US TO FLY OUR FLAGS, BUT IS IT OK FOR EVERY OTHER CULTURE TO DO SAY. ?..??
LMHR
2026-03-12 10:42:28
Kim, stop shouting and think. Our forefathers fought against the type of people funding those flags. Show some respect to our troops and our history rather than a piece of cloth you plastic patriot.
Darren
2026-03-12 11:25:55
I think seeing these flags brightens up the town. Not the George Cross ones though as they are bland. Keep the Union flags flying. Some say it's far right to keep them in sight and the lefties want them gone. I want the far left and the far right gone but we all know that will never happen so lets just put up and shut up. I am proud of my country but disgusted and ashamed of the Government. The UK was once the envy of the world (many, many years ago), now we are just a clown state with everyone getting offended by just about everything. That's my 10 penneth worth !!
Darren
2026-03-12 11:28:58
Ps Will never vote green as they want us back in the Euro Dictatorship. Amazing that a foreign power could not do by force will now be doing by economics and stealth, and those in positions of authority are letting it happen.
Harlow Bob
2026-03-12 11:37:26
LMHR What you’re highlighting is a real tension in public debate: Some people wrap themselves in patriotic symbols while promoting ideas that contradict the very values our grandparents fought and died for. Britain’s forebears fought against fascism in Europe, and it’s historically accurate to say that post‑war Britain defined itself in opposition to authoritarian, exclusionary ideologies. When modern groups adopt rhetoric or symbolism that echoes those old movements while claiming to be the “true patriots” it’s fair to call out the contradiction. That’s not name‑calling; it’s pointing to documented history and the danger of rewriting it.
Kim O'connor
2026-03-12 13:47:35
LMHR, you clearly don't know what your talking about. But all said and done, you still never answered the question.
Kim O'connor
2026-03-12 13:50:20
LMHR, you just talk nonsense.
LMHR
2026-03-12 14:37:07
okay Kim fair enough but can you even climb a ladder?
Rachel T
2026-03-12 15:26:45
No Kim, it’s you that has missed the point entirely. Nobody cares about the flag being flown, it’s the question of why. Operation raise the colours - the campaign behind the flags going up is funded by the same people that many of us lost family members fighting against in the Second World War. We have a choice to let fascists hide behind our flag or call them out when we see it. Im still proud of the Britain that ran these lot out of cable street.
sheila
2026-03-12 15:52:35
Kim, nobody is telling anyone they “can’t fly the British flag.” What’s being challenged is a coordinated stunt by people with well‑documented extremist links do fascist Nazi groups using the flag as a prop, not a symbol of pride. That’s why this isn’t comparable to community groups flying cultural flags at authorised events those aren’t being used as political intimidation. If you genuinely want to talk about patriotism, start by recognising when our national symbols are being hijacked by the very ideologies Britain fought against. End of.
Darren
2026-03-12 15:54:12
I know I may be stirring the pot here but why is it that if a British person wants to protect their heritage and identity, it gets a negative label applied, yet those from abroad can retain their heritage and identity yet nothing negative is said. This is how the lefties and Government are causing division and why people most likely start to retaliate with flags and other means of protest. It's not fascism, it's simply people getting fed up with it all. As I said previously, the union flag flying across the town brightens up the place. I don't start throwing my toys out of the pram screaming "fascists" etc. I simply say "how loverly" and get on with my life. Others should simply do the same.
Rachel T
2026-03-12 16:10:10
Darren, why do you care so much why others think? Fly your flag if there are no ill intentions behind it. What we are trying to put across is that this specific campaign is funded by former BNP members, an organisation which nobody in their right mind would call anything short of fascist whether you are left wing or right wing we can at least agree on that.
Darren
2026-03-12 16:13:23
And another thing......The Green Party’s obsession with 'safety' regarding a few bits of cloth on lamp posts would be laughable if the state of our town weren't so serious. If we are talking about public safety and hazards, let’s look at the elephant in the room: the craters in our roads. While the Greens are busy petitioning against flags, Essex County Council is sitting on a record pothole backlog. Even in Chelmsford, right on the doorstep of County Hall, the roads are a disgrace. Here in Harlow, motorists are risking their suspension and cyclists are risking their lives every single day navigating our roads. It’s a bizarre set of priorities. A flag might flutter in the wind, but a deep pothole will actually take a car off the road or send a cyclist to the hospital. If the Green Party truly cared about 'hazards' and 'public safety,' they’d be out campaigning for emergency road repairs and better infrastructure, not trying to strip away symbols of national identity under the guise of maintenance. Let’s fix the roads we drive on before we worry about the decorations on the lamp posts. One is a genuine danger; the other is just a distraction
Rachel T
2026-03-12 16:15:04
Not really jumping the gun with the fascism accusations when the funds lead right back to the (former) BNP and (current) Britain First, Darren.
Yvonne
2026-03-12 17:19:42
Darren is spot on, in terms of safety and priorities, proper road maintenance and fixing potholes is priority number one. Why the Greens are bothered by a few flags is beyond belief. This is just the usual empty 'virtual signalling' and has nothing to do with road safety.
Paul Murphy
2026-03-12 19:24:36
Darren may be right about potholes, but pretending this is only about road safety ignores the deeper issue: when organised groups with openly extremist histories use national symbols to stake out territory, it echoes the very ideologies our forefathers fought against. This isn’t about a “few flags” it’s about refusing to let fascist and neo‑Nazi currents creep back into public life under the cover of patriotism, and recognising that defending our community means challenging that distortion of our history and values.
Kim O'connor
2026-03-13 09:58:57
I'm a 68 year old pensioner, and like thousands of us up and down this country, we are not far right, we can not cope now in this country, our infrastructure is broken. And rather going against the very thing s we believe in, like defacing Winston Churchill statue, or removing his face from the bank note, we use our voices by flying the flag, the people are trying to get a message across, the best way they can. I'm an x green candidate , and I truly believe theses questions will come up on the door step. Harlow green s are good hard working people, and care about the community. But main party it self, is so far removed from what it should stand for, it's unreal. I don't care what people say about me, but I do care about my country and it's people. The flags are doing no one harm, the symbol still stands for us,, be it where ever the source comes from. It's still our flag. And the people are talking. So go a head with the unpleasant remarks. This lady's not for turning.
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