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Staines name-change bid defended | Staines name-change bid defended |
(40 minutes later) | |
Plans to rename the Surrey town of Staines as Staines-upon-Thames have been defended by a councillor. | Plans to rename the Surrey town of Staines as Staines-upon-Thames have been defended by a councillor. |
Councillor Colin Davis spoke out after questions were raised by the public in a Spelthorne council meeting. | Councillor Colin Davis spoke out after questions were raised by the public in a Spelthorne council meeting. |
He claimed those asking questions were opposing the name change and trying to disrupt the workings of the council. | He claimed those asking questions were opposing the name change and trying to disrupt the workings of the council. |
Questions included whether there was evidence the name-change would boost the economy and whether wider regeneration had been considered. | Questions included whether there was evidence the name-change would boost the economy and whether wider regeneration had been considered. |
'Rather irritating' | 'Rather irritating' |
Mr Davis said questions asked at the meeting also included how much a survey of people's views of Staines had cost, and whether the council was following a recommended process. | Mr Davis said questions asked at the meeting also included how much a survey of people's views of Staines had cost, and whether the council was following a recommended process. |
After the meeting, Mr Davis said: "It is rather irritating that those who are asking these questions have already put out a leaflet of their own that not only implicitly advises residents to oppose the change but urges them to do so in a manner calculated to cause optimum disruption to the working of the council." | After the meeting, Mr Davis said: "It is rather irritating that those who are asking these questions have already put out a leaflet of their own that not only implicitly advises residents to oppose the change but urges them to do so in a manner calculated to cause optimum disruption to the working of the council." |
Responding to the questions, he said Staines had benefited from significant improvements to shopping facilities in the past 12 years and further improvements would be encouraged. | Responding to the questions, he said Staines had benefited from significant improvements to shopping facilities in the past 12 years and further improvements would be encouraged. |
He said the survey had cost £1,100 and was paid for by the economic development theme group of the local strategic partnership. | He said the survey had cost £1,100 and was paid for by the economic development theme group of the local strategic partnership. |
"The Staines-upon-Thames proposal is an integral part of the process of increasing tourism and inward investment into the borough's flagship town centre," Mr Davis said. | "The Staines-upon-Thames proposal is an integral part of the process of increasing tourism and inward investment into the borough's flagship town centre," Mr Davis said. |
"The name change will not on its own lead to significant changes to the economic prosperity of the borough, but it is a key component within the range of initiatives that are taking place." | "The name change will not on its own lead to significant changes to the economic prosperity of the borough, but it is a key component within the range of initiatives that are taking place." |
The cabinet economic spokesman said: "Town names do not change that often and there is no government recommended process for doing so. | The cabinet economic spokesman said: "Town names do not change that often and there is no government recommended process for doing so. |
"In any event, a town name has no legal status so this is why the council is consulting with residents and businesses on the change of name." | "In any event, a town name has no legal status so this is why the council is consulting with residents and businesses on the change of name." |
Public consultation on the name-change runs until 31 October. | Public consultation on the name-change runs until 31 October. |
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