‘Name bank’ idea for Perth’s new streets
Proposal to make naming quicker and easier
What name would you give a brand new street? Can you better Perth’s Needless Road?
Councillors have voted to draft lists of street names developers can choose from to speed up the process.
Council officers recommended the new approach be introduced to make it more customerfocused, reducing the process from 53 to 30-35 working days.
The motion was brought before Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) environment and infrastructure committee on Wednesday, January 22.
Peter Marshall, service manager for planning and housing strategy, told the committee there had been issues in the past with farm names being duplicated and emergency services then going to the wrong address.
Cllr Kathleen Baird said street and house names could be “quite contentious.”
The report put before the committee read: “Although the street naming and numbering process can seem reasonably straightforward, it can be, by its very nature, a deeply personal and emotive issue for residents, especially with respect to changing house names.
“The names of streets themselves can also be a reflection of the local characteristics or history of a particular location. The council aims to be responsive to the needs of the developer and residents by providing an efficient street naming and property numbering service which minimises delays.
“As this is now a chargeable service, there is an increasing expectation of a timely turnaround.”
PKC introduced a charge for the service in April 2016.
Cllr Willie Robertson, who along with Cllr Michael Barnacle opposed the motion, believes the current system works well.
At present, council officers contact local members and say when a street in a new development requires a name.
Cllr Roberston, who represents Kinross-shire, will go to the community council and historical society.
He said: “In Kinross-shire, we always seem to come to a reasonable decision.
“If we have got a lot of names, they will just pick one from the list. Often special events happen and we want to mark that - but if it’s not on the list...”
He argued a list would be “almost prescriptive.”
However, the proposal approved by councillors states that if, on occasion, a developer requested a name not on the list, local members will be consulted and responses required within 21 days.
Councillors Robertson and Barnacle tabled an amendment to stick with the current system but were outvoted by 13 votes to two.
Councillors will be contacted shortly to create a bank of local street names with a view to having the name bank populated by mid 2020. As the names on the list are used up, local members will be asked to add more names.