There are no ‘no go areas’ - Roads Minister

Lord Morrow asked the Minister asked to “detail whether these areas are ‘no go areas’ for departmental and arm’s-length body staff and how many areas are presently classed as such.”

Mr Kennedy replied: “My Department’s Roads Service has signed up to the multi-agency Joint Protocol in Relation to the Display of Flags in Public Areas. Under the Protocol, Roads Service will, when called upon by the lead Agency, provide the access equipment and resources to remove unwanted flags and emblems, once agreement has been reached for their removal and where they are not easily accessible for the local community.

“My Department does not regard any locations where there are illegal symbols, flags, emblems or graffiti on lamp posts or other Departmental property to be ‘no go areas’ for staff. Consequently, there are no areas currently classed as ‘no go areas.’”