Councillors ‘fail to listen’ after no poppies placed on lampposts in Derbyshire suburb

Residents in two East Midlands suburbs have expressed frustration over the lack of poppy displays on local lampposts during this year’s Remembrance commemorations.

The absence of the traditional remembrance symbols has affected in Littleover and Blagreaves for the second consecutive year, despite other Derby suburbs such as Chaddesden, Mickleover, Oakwood and Allestree maintaining their displays.

Dawn Gee, of Carlisle Against Crime community group, said residents were “extremely disappointed that Derby city councillors failed to put up poppies in the local area”, which had previously been well-covered across both wards.

The situation has particularly affected Blagreaves Lane, a mile-long road that previously displayed poppies along its full length.

In response to the lack of official displays, local residents have taken matters into their own hands. The Carlisle Against Crime community group purchased and installed 24 poppies along Carlisle Avenue.

The group also fundraised to acquire two soldier silhouettes, which they placed in their community garden.

This community initiative stands in stark contrast to the official arrangements, with only 15 poppies observed across the entire Blagreaves ward, including just nine along the extensive Blagreaves Lane.

“Other ward councillors across the city had chosen respect over rule,” said Dawn Gee, highlighting how other areas managed to maintain their displays, adding: “Why is it that councillors in Chaddesden, Mickleover, Oakwood, Allestree and other wards have managed to carry out the installation of poppies yet Blagreaves and Littleover village have failed to listen to residents and show respect once again.”

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The council’s position stems from strict health and safety protocols outlined in an email sent to city councillors last year.

The email advised councillors not to install poppies themselves or encourage residents to do so, citing concerns about height clearance, electrical safety, and working at height requirements.

Only Balfour Beatty, the council’s street lighting partner, is authorised to attach decorations to street furniture.

The council emphasised that any installations require prior approval from Balfour Beatty Living Places, particularly regarding high-speed roads.

“We were advised that we could not put them up ourselves,” confirmed Labour Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, explaining the official restrictions. One Littleover resident has taken a creative approach to address the poppy shortage.

Jason Toon, who runs the Facebook page Everything Sherwood Foresters, crafted handmade cardboard poppies and installed them around the village. Toon also mounted a silhouette soldier on the front of his house and placed poppies near St Peter’s Church, where the war memorial stands.

Ashley Waterhouse, chair of Derby Civic Society, who assisted with the installations, praised the initiative: “Mr Toon is a community hero. When we put them near the war memorial, there was not even one poppy in sight. They are all community heroes”.

Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa of Blagreaves ward acknowledged that official poppy installations had taken place this year, though not as extensively as desired.

“We have had poppies put up by Balfour Beatty in Blagreaves ward this year. They are not as many as we would have liked and were requested to be put up by Balfour Beatty,” he said.

The councillor confirmed working with local community groups to ensure some coverage across the area.

“We agreed they would put them up in their neighbourhood and we would get Balfour Beatty to put them in other parts of the ward,” he explained, referring to coordination with Carlisle Against Crime.