Oxfordshire County Council has secured a High Court injunction preventing individuals from hanging flags on lampposts and other highway structures in the region. The legal action, approved by Mr Justice Dexter Dias, was prompted by concerns over safety, trespass, and obstruction related to the unauthorized display of flags.

The judgment, issued on Thursday, prohibits attaching flags to street furniture such as lampposts and expressly forbids painting flags on roads. The council argued that these activities not only present hazards to the public but also interfere with the maintenance of highways.

The court heard that council workers tasked with removing the flags have experienced abuse and intimidation. Additionally, some maintenance staff reportedly feel unsafe carrying out their duties, prompting measures such as wearing face coverings and checking vehicles for tracking devices after a worker’s home address was unlawfully shared.

The injunction aims to safeguard both public safety and the well-being of council employees, who have expressed distress over working under such conditions. Oxfordshire County Council’s legal representatives emphasized the need for this ruling to prevent further incidents and ensure uninterrupted highway maintenance.