The UK town between two asylum seeker hotels where scores of British flags are being flown

Scores of England and British flags have sprung up in a market town sandwiched between two hotels used to house asylum seekers. Locals have attached the flags to lamp posts with zip ties over a four-mile stretch; however, some people have slammed them as "racist" and "inhospitable".

The St George's Cross and Union Flags have appeared between Epping Forest and North Weald, where migrant families have been housed in the Phoenix Epping Hotel for the past three years. Most of the flags are between The Bell Hotel, which houses single male migrants, and the eastern end of Epping High Street. Some locals have backed the flags while others have ordered for them to be removed.

It comes after the Bell Hotel became the centre of huge protests after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies the charge against him and will stand trial later this month.

Last Friday (August 15), a picture of a hooded man putting up a flat in Epping High Street was posted on Facebook. It was previously claimed that some flags had been removed across the town around a week earlier ahead of one of the protests.

One man posted on the social media site: "I think the flags look fantastic, what's racist and unwelcoming about pride in the country you live in. Personally I think the different flags of the UK should be flown in every UK town and village."

However, a second added: "I'm phoning @EFDCChairman council to ask for removal. Unless it's for an official event they should not be up. They make Epping look racist and inhospitable."

An Epping Forest Council spokesman said: "The Council proudly flies the Union Jack outside the Civic Offices every day and recognises the importance of showing pride in our community and country.

"While we support flying the Union Jack and other flags, any flag or any other paraphernalia should not be placed on public property without permission. We will consistently and in an even-handed manner seek the removal of anything placed on public property without permission

"Public spaces such as pavements and streetlamps are managed by Essex County Council, not Epping Forest District Council. Complaints about flags on such infrastructure will be passed to Essex County Council.

"We ask everyone to follow the rules and help keep Epping Forest District the beautiful community we love to live and work in."

Tower Hamlets Council workers reportedly spent hours cutting down St George's Cross and Union Flags at Marsh Mills, on the Isle of Dogs, over the weekend. The same council previously allowed Palestinian flags to remain up after the war between Hamas and Israel broke out in 2023.

Until June 2022, the Phoenix Epping Hotel was used by Redbridge Council to house homeless people. However, after concerns it was located too far from shops and lacked public transport links, the Home Office began using it for migrant families.

The hotel was damaged by a fire on March 28 but is still being used to house families. The Bell Hotel, in Epping, also suffered a blaze on April 5 and a man, aged 36 and residing at the hotel, was charged with arson with intent to endanger life in connection with both fires and is awaiting trial.