Council Unanimously Backs Street Name Change
A Northern Irish council has taken the decisive step to begin the process of renaming a street currently called Prince Andrew Way. The move by Mid and East Antrim council, agreed upon unanimously, seeks to dissociate the Carrickfergus road from the disgraced royal, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The council meeting on Monday saw councillors from across the political spectrum, including Unionist parties and Sinn Féin, back a motion put forward by the Alliance party. The motion described the action as "long overdue" and initiates the formal procedure for selecting a new name for this stretch of local shops and businesses.
A Necessary But Regrettable Decision
The street was originally named Prince Andrew Way in 1986 to mark his wedding to Sarah Ferguson. However, the association has become untenable for the local authority in light of recent events.
Anna Henry of the Traditional Unionist Voice party expressed the council's sentiment, stating, "This is a sad but necessary motion. Regrettably the alleged actions of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have made it impossible for this council to continue honouring him in the manner the good people of Mid and East Antrim have done in the past."
The decision follows the stripping of Mountbatten-Windsor’s royal titles last month by King Charles. This action was prompted by the Duke's friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault made against him by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims. The former prince has denied these allegations.
The Practicalities of a Name Change
Alliance councillor Lauren Gray, who brought the motion, noted the significant public comment on the issue, suggesting the change was well-supported locally. She proposed that the street should retain a link to the royal family, suggesting it could be renamed after the late Queen Elizabeth II.
However, the council's interim chief executive, Valerie Watts, highlighted that changing a street name is not a simple task. She emphasised that residents must be consulted due to the far-reaching implications. "It can have implications for them, such as changing your address for your bank account, credit cards, driver’s licence, utility bills etc," Watts explained. "However, it can be done and council do have the power to change street names."
This move in Northern Ireland echoes similar sentiments in England. Residents living on Prince Andrew Road and Prince Andrew Close in Maidenhead have also asked for their addresses to be renamed, with one resident noting the awkwardness and "raised eyebrows" that now come with stating their address.
