Mini-roundabouts in Keynsham have recently been defaced with broad St George’s Cross designs, sparking concerns over road safety and misinterpretation among drivers. The red crosses, painted without council permission, cover several roundabouts across the town as part of a controversial nationwide campaign aimed at “raising the colours” of England.
While some view these painted flags as a display of patriotism, others see them as a symbol of intimidation, particularly towards asylum seekers. However, a different problem has emerged: the markings resemble large red X’s crossing out the roundabouts, leading to confusion about their status on the road.
One local motorist submitted a complaint through the Fix My Street platform, stating, “The roundabout markings have been altered with red crosses along the whole series of roundabouts. It looks like the roundabouts are crossed out and no longer in use, which is misleading and potentially confusing. I request that the lines be removed and the roundabouts reinstated properly.”
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Another concern was raised about the roundabout at the top of Bath Hill, where a resident warned that the markings “could appear to be a no entry sign, which is not appropriate for such a thoroughfare and may confuse drivers.”
Keynsham South councillor Alan Hale, the council’s advocate for safer roads, appealed on social media, urging residents to stop defacing public property. He commented, “It makes the town look cheap and poses a real road safety risk, especially since zebra crossings have also been vandalised elsewhere, giving people an excuse to ignore pedestrian crossings.”
Bath and North East Somerset Council has highlighted the financial expense involved in cleaning up the graffiti and confirmed that police are actively investigating the vandalism. The wave of flag-painting originated after an incident in Birmingham in July, where a girl was isolated for wearing a dress featuring the Union Jack, and has since evolved into painting the English flag on roads around the country.
This trend coincides with increased tensions surrounding asylum seekers and right-wing protests against asylum hotels. Nonetheless, organizers of the original Wythall Flaggers movement maintain that their actions are purely patriotic, emphasizing their love for the English flag.
Some community members addressing the council expressed a deeper awareness of the issue’s context. One Fix My Street complaint on a Bath Road mini-roundabout pointed out, “The Union Jack and St George’s Cross are being used to promote far-right politics and anti-immigration sentiments. It’s distressing because these symbols, in this context, send a clear message of exclusion to anyone who looks or sounds different, regardless of their nationality.”
Liberal Democrat council leader Kevin Guy stressed the distinction between healthy patriotism and exclusionary nationalism. “Bath and North East Somerset prides itself on being inclusive and opposed to all forms of racism and intolerance. Our national flag stands for these values, and we will never support its misuse to spread hatred or division,” he stated.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed awareness of multiple incidents involving the St George’s flag graffiti on roundabouts over the weekend. They assured the public that “where criminal damage is identified, investigations will proceed proportionately,” and that they are working alongside councils to manage the removal of the graffiti and flags.