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| Bell End: Thousands back petition to keep street name | Bell End: Thousands back petition to keep street name |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people have backed a counter-petition to save a street called Bell End after calls for the "rude" road name to be changed. | Thousands of people have backed a counter-petition to save a street called Bell End after calls for the "rude" road name to be changed. |
| Linda George said she was "just amazed" to see her plight to save the Black Country road name had "gone global", featuring in newspapers around world. | Linda George said she was "just amazed" to see her plight to save the Black Country road name had "gone global", featuring in newspapers around world. |
| Her petition, backed by nearly 5,000 supporters, said the "historic" name was believed to be after a local mine. | Her petition, backed by nearly 5,000 supporters, said the "historic" name was believed to be after a local mine. |
| Sandwell Council will "consider the matter" after receiving both petitions. | Sandwell Council will "consider the matter" after receiving both petitions. |
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| The original petition said some Rowley Regis residents believed the "offensive word" made them a "laughing stock" and children were being bullied and teased because of it. | The original petition said some Rowley Regis residents believed the "offensive word" made them a "laughing stock" and children were being bullied and teased because of it. |
| The petition, backed by about 100 supporters, told the Labour-run council it was "time for a change", even to a similar name, such as Bell Road. | The petition, backed by about 100 supporters, told the Labour-run council it was "time for a change", even to a similar name, such as Bell Road. |
| But Mrs George, a local historian who runs the Facebook page "I Remember Blackheath and Rowley Regis", said residents she knew did not want this "pointless change", finding the idea "deeply offensive". | But Mrs George, a local historian who runs the Facebook page "I Remember Blackheath and Rowley Regis", said residents she knew did not want this "pointless change", finding the idea "deeply offensive". |
| The petition adds: "If children are being bullied because of the name of their road, the problem is the bullying children, who need educating." | The petition adds: "If children are being bullied because of the name of their road, the problem is the bullying children, who need educating." |
| Mrs George's great uncle, Albert Harrold, lived in Bell End and after he was killed during World War One, his widow Sarah Jane and their children ran a shop there until about 1960. | Mrs George's great uncle, Albert Harrold, lived in Bell End and after he was killed during World War One, his widow Sarah Jane and their children ran a shop there until about 1960. |
| Mrs George has fond memories of the area and still regularly visits, including recently helping pupils with a ceramic poppy project. | Mrs George has fond memories of the area and still regularly visits, including recently helping pupils with a ceramic poppy project. |
| "I remember being sat with my grandmother in the chapel in Bell End wrapped up in her fur coat because it was freezing," she said. | "I remember being sat with my grandmother in the chapel in Bell End wrapped up in her fur coat because it was freezing," she said. |
| Mrs George, of Worcester, said many people did not know about the name's connotations. | Mrs George, of Worcester, said many people did not know about the name's connotations. |
| "And those that do just don't seem to care," she added. | "And those that do just don't seem to care," she added. |