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Grant Shapps, Local Government Minister has told council heads across the UK to take sensible decisions on safety and health in relation to people flying the national flag to show support for the England football team at the 2010 World Cup being held in South Africa.

Shapps wrote to the bosses, saying that a practical approach to safety and health, assessing potential risks is vital and councils are well placed to take appropriate local decisions.

He wrote that he expected local heads to take a practical approach to prevent allegations of being over-enthusiastic or killjoys so that local communities can come together and fly the flag to support the England team.

According to a Communities and Local Government source, the suggestion by the minister was put forth after incidents where the local councils exhibited a rigid approach towards health and safety fears or advertising rules.

Reports suggested that flags had been banned by the York and Lancashire councils.

Policy and Technical Director at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Richard Jones, said that he was happy with the Government’s advice to local councils.The IOSH had been campaigning for a practical approach to public health and safety for years. He added that councils should take decisions based on potential risks without fearing unpopularity.

He said that the IOSH backed Shapps’s advice to local bosses and hoped that such government measures encourage a sensible approach to public health and safety issues. Jones added that the IOSH looked forward to assisting the new government in the process.