Birmingham City Council has recruited staff to remove “unauthorised” flags from the streets in a month-long campaign during the early hours of each day.
The workers will work in darkness throughout October to tear down items including Union Jack and St George’s flags, which have sprung up across the city in recent months.
Job adverts for construction company Kier have been posted on several recruitment websites, with the role involving “removing unauthorised attachments (e.g. flags) from public property”.
The advert adds that the Mobile Elevating Work Platform operators will “work in pairs” and usually be accompanied by a staff member.
Workers will “travel to sites across Birmingham” to carry out the “essential removal works” and be paid up to £25 per hour.
The advert states that roles could be extended beyond the provisional end date of October 31, “depending on project progress”.
Birmingham City Council faced backlash in the summer after saying it would remove Union Jacks and St George’s flags from lampposts, citing safety concerns.
Flags have been displayed in towns and cities across the country as part of the online movement “Operation Raise the Colours”.
Workers are being recruited to remove the flags from the streets of Birmingham
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The Labour-run local authority said “unauthorised items” could be “putting lives of motorists and pedestrians at risk”.
It said at the time its highways staff had removed around 200 banners and flags from lampposts since the start of the year, ahead of work to improve street lighting to energy-efficient LEDs.
In a later statement, the authority said it “recognises the importance” of the Union Jack and St George’s flags as “symbols of national pride”.
“Brummies are proud to be British and proud that this is a welcoming city celebrating many different cultures,” a council statement read.
The St George’s cross has been painted on mini roundabouts in Birmingham
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“When it comes to items attached to lamp posts, it is normal council procedure for these to be removed on a regular basis, in line with our health and safety obligations.
“As has always been the case, people are free to fly or hang flags from their homes or gardens, but we ask that they are not attached to street furniture.”
Flags initially sprang up in the Weoley Castle area of Birmingham thanks to a “patriotic” group of residents, with an online fundraiser set up to help fund them.
The GoFundMe page has so far raised more than £22,000.
Council leader John Cotton previously urged residents to stop displaying flags in the street.
According to Birmingham Live, he said: “In Birmingham, you’re absolutely free to, and we welcome, the flying of the flag on your own property.
“But please desist from placing flags on street furniture or anywhere else.
“There are health and safety obligations we have to ensure, as the highways authority, are respected.”
GB News has contacted Birmingham City Council for comment.