December 22, 2008
‘NAME STREETS AND PARKS AFTER LOCAL HEROES’ - MP
Local Government Minister and Wentworth MP John Healey has given his backing to a new report which says public places should be named after local heroes.
The report says that recognising the achievements of citizens by naming streets and parks after them helps build community cohesion and civic pride.
What’s in a name? Celebrating achievement through public spaces has been published by the New Local Government Network. Author James Hulme suggests councils should organise ‘X Factor’-style public votes to re-name public spaces. He urges councils to build upon the example of the Mayor of Mansfield who celebrated the two Olympic gold medals won by swimmer Rebecca Adlington by naming a road and the local swimming pool after her.
Mr Healey has backed the proposals and urged councils to adopt the approach.
He said: “I think it’s great for local democracy and local pride if people can name their public spaces after the people who are important to them. They may choose national icons. But they may also choose their community’s unsung heroes; those who serve others and win the respect and admiration of the people around them.
“Over the past year I’ve dealt with the aftermath of last summer’s floods. I’ve seen many ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help their neighbours and get their communities back on their feet. These are just the sort of unsung heroes that local people could honour in this way.”
Rotherham Council have already used this practice, with former borough councillors remembered through Aubrey Senior Way and Benton Way (after Roland Benton) in Kimberworth and Calladine Way (Frank Calladine) in Swinton.
And Oak Tree Court, Kingsley Court and Henderson Court in Canklow were named after a vote held in local schools.