Streets named after colonial figures at mercy of ‘woke’ councils

HUNDREDS of streets are at risk of being renamed by “woke” councils because the names have links to colonialism or slavery, a new report claims.

Last night, ministers signalled they could change the law to force local authorities to put any name change to a residents’ vote.

The study by think tank Policy Exchange found 18 councils across England and Wales have stated publicly they are actively reviewing names. Eight have identified specific streets – a total of 24 – they might rename.

Last year, Ealing council changed the name of part of Havelock Road, named after general Sir Henry Havelock who suppressed the Revolt of 1857 in North India, to Guru Nanak Road.

And there are concerns that name changes are set to soar as more councils examine more links with their areas’ colonial past.

Policy Exchange estimate hundreds of streets are under review by councils in England and Wales because of perceived links to slavery or racism.

Despite street names being subject to laws – the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907 and the Public Health Act 1925 and, in Greater London, the London Buildings Act Amendment Act 1939 – any council can change the name of a street without consulting residents.

The only method of redress is to appeal to a court, which is costly and “of limited use because in most cases the court does not have the authority to reverse the council’s decision,” the report said.

It recommends ministers bring in a “democratic right to a say on proposed changes to the name of a place, especially where this concerns heritage and local or national identity,” adding: “Such

change should not be imposed on people top-down.”

It said: “Obtaining democratic consent is particularly vital in the case of street name alteration because renaming streets not only has an impact on public heritage, but also has very direct

practical impacts on citizens through costs incurred, such as when residents have to update official documentation.”

Any change would effectively reimpose Section 21 of the 1907 Act which only allows street names to be changed with the “consent of two-thirds in number of the ratepayers” resident on that street.

Robert Jenrick, the Communities Secretary, is understood to want to require a “supermajority” of residents – such as two thirds of people in a street – to vote in favour before a name change can proceed.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: “The names of streets are part of our identity and shared history which should not be erased, and any changes should certainly not be imposed on local residents without any democratic consent. I applaud Policy Exchange’s research and will examine its proposals to help protect our heritage and ensure local people are at the heart of decision making.”

Zewditu Gebreyohanes, the report’s author, said councils had to consider the disruptive impact of changing street names on people living there.

She said: “The changing of a street name is not only expensive for the council but is also disruptive for residents, who are burdened with the hassle and expense of updating their addresses, such as on driving licences and company records.”

Trevor Phillips, chairman of Policy Exchange’s History Matters Project, added: “Street names are just one expression of our shared history, but for many they mean a great deal with many of us keen to revisit our childhood neighbourhoods or places where our parents grew up. The changes we propose are small, but we believe it is vital everyone’s voice is heard in the debate.”

Policy Exchange fellow Calvin Robinson should be made the Government’s new free speech champion to protect the rights of students and academics not to be silenced on campuses, four MPs say in a letter to The Sunday Tele

graph today.