A Remembrance Day poppy display in Hoyland has been canceled after new rules from the local council. The display had been a tradition for the last three years, with residents honoring 396 soldiers from the town who died in the two world wars.
The tribute used to feature a large wooden poppy for each fallen soldier placed on lampposts along the parade route from the memorial to the town center. But this year, the group behind it decided to stop after new guidance from Barnsley Council made it too difficult to continue.
Council officials told the Hoyland Remembrance and Parade Group they can no longer attach poppies to lampposts that have road signs. The updated guidance came after a recent rise in flag-flying incidents and a review of what can be placed on street lighting columns.
Group chairman Robert Hill said: “I am genuinely disheartened that we will not be putting up the wooden poppies on lampposts and road signage posts lining the Parade Route.” He added that each poppy carries the name of a local soldier and that leaving any out would feel disrespectful.
He said the town center would look bare without them since most lampposts have signs. “We cannot put one up with a name and not another,” he said. “We believe this would be disrespectful.”
The group’s decision followed confusion online about the new flag installations earlier in the year. After asking for clarification, they were told they must submit a detailed application at least ten days before putting up any poppies and avoid lampposts with road signage.
Members said the new rules make it impossible to continue since most lampposts in the town center are now off-limits. A council spokesperson said the first duty is to “the health, safety, and welfare of all highway users.”
They explained that the increase in unlicensed attachments to street lighting prompted a review of current processes. The council said the update, issued October 10, ensures all lamppost installations are handled safely and consistently. They emphasized that the law itself has not changed since the Highways Act of 1980.
The spokesperson said the update was made to “keep highway users safe,” including those attaching items to council infrastructure. The council also advised that poppies should be fitted just above head height to avoid the use of ladders or platforms.
They said: “We fully support the respectful display of poppies on lighting columns as a mark of remembrance across the borough.” Council leader Steve Houghton said they value the group’s efforts and want to help find safe ways to continue the tribute in the future.
Under the new guidance, any community group wanting to attach items to lampposts or street furniture must now apply in advance and show they meet safety and liability standards. The Hoyland group said they “hope” to work with the council over the next year to bring the tradition back.
