Highways banners responses

Background

On 21 October, 2025 the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment approved a report for 164 additional banners to be installed on highway street furniture in addition to the existing 180 sites. The initial new banners would feature the Union Flag.

Installation has been completed at the agreed locations as detailed in the appendix to the committee report. You can read the report at this link: Decision Details: Highway Banners

Following the announcement of the proposed highway banners and their subsequent installation, the County Council has received significant correspondence on this matter, with 120 complaints being received alongside two messages of support. 

The following themes have been present in the responses received so far, and those themes, along with a response, are listed below: 

Banners do not offer value for money

The Council considers value for money not only in terms of direct financial return, but also in terms of public information, civic engagement and the use of existing assets.

The banners utilise existing street furniture and are installed at approved locations. They replace or supplement other, more expensive communication methods. The overall cost is modest in the context of county-wide communications and will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains proportionate.

Funding could be better spent elsewhere 

The Council recognises that there are always competing priorities for public funding. The cost of the banner programme is very modest in the context of overall Council budgets, and costs have been met from corporate contingencies rather than being taken from frontline service budgets.

Flags are divisive and damage community cohesion

The Council recognises that people hold a range of views about the use of national symbols. The intention of displaying the Union Flag is not to divide communities, but to promote shared civic identity across all communities in the county.

The flag represents the United Kingdom as a whole and is not associated with any political party or viewpoint. The use of the banner infrastructure in the future could display events promoting Nottinghamshire, further enhancing the local economy and encouraging tourism. 

Flags are politically motivated

The decision to display national flags is not politically motivated. The Union Flag is a national symbol, and its use by public authorities for civic and commemorative purposes is longstanding and lawful. The banners are not used to promote any political party, campaign or viewpoint.

No Consultation was carried out

Not all operational decisions require public consultation. In this case, the installation of banners on the existing highway infrastructure falls within the Council’s established powers and normal operational decision-making processes.

As the report notes, there were already 180 locations across the County where banners promoting local events are displayed. This proposal has extended that by a further 164. 

Lack of transparency

The decision was taken through the Council’s established decision-making process and was supported by a published report setting out the purpose, costs, legal basis and review arrangements. That report is publicly available, and the decision was subject to the Council’s normal scrutiny and accountability arrangements.

Flags should be removed

The Council has no current plans to remove the flags. Their installation was approved through the Council’s established decision-making process and is lawful. The display and content of the banners will be kept under periodic review to ensure they remain appropriate and compliant with statutory requirements.