Councillors have complained about a 'waste' after more than £7,000 was spent clearing up after Operation Raise the Colours activism in Reading. Last summer people attached England and United Kingdom flags to lampposts and painted St George's crosses on road markings.
A freedom of information request from the Local Democracy Reporting Service found a total of £7403.68 was spent on removal and cleanup operations.
Much of the activism took place in the Church ward of Whitley, with crosses on road markings spotted in Brixham Road, Callington Road and Northumberland Avenue.
Parties standing in Church ward were asked to react. A response was requested from Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the leader of the Labour group and current council leader, on behalf of sitting councillor Ruth McEwan, who is the Labour candidate for Church ward. A request was also sent to Matthew Reynolds, the Reform UK candidate. These responses will be added when they become available.
Councillor James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: "Lib Dems are proud of our flag and what it stands for - decency, tolerance, and respect for one another. We have no issue with people expressing pride in their country.
"However, we do think it is a shame that Reading residents have had to pay over £7,000 to clear up unauthorised graffiti on public roads.
"That is money that could have been spent on local services, and we would encourage anyone who wants to celebrate their community to do so in a way that does not place an unnecessary burden on local taxpayers."
The Liberal Democrat candidate for Church ward is Mark Cole.
Councillor Isobel Ballsdon, the Conservative candidate for Caversham Heights ward, said: "Graffiti is vandalism, plain and simple, and residents shouldn't be left picking up the bill. Thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money has been wasted cleaning this up, money that should have been spent instead on frontline services and positive initiatives."
Adam Phelps is the Conservative candidate for Church ward.
Cllr Dave McElroy (Green, Redlands) said: "Gosh, what a waste of money.
"I suggest anyone who cares about their community and has enough spare time to paint flags everywhere stops wasting the council's time and instead signs up for Reading Lions.
"Become a man of your community, it's good for the soul."
Former councillor Jamie Whitham is the Green Party candidate for Church ward.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
