Support for changes to ‘negative’ Watford street names

Support for changes to ‘negative’ Watford street names

Watford councillors unanimously supported a bid to change street names linked to the slave trade and “negative history”.

The move came last night (Tuesday, July 14) after councillor Asif Khan put forward a motion to rename roads such as Rhodes Way, Clive Way, Colonial Way and Imperial Way.

It was agreed to consult with the Royal Mail, local businesses and residents on the matter to ensure that their views are considered and to form a task group to report back with suggested new names.

And from now on when naming new buildings, streets, statues or monuments, the council should ensure that they reflect Watford and its history and diversity, stated the motion.

Councillor Khan believes Watford “has a rich, diverse and positive history which must be celebrated”.

One way of doing this, “is to ensure that street names, buildings, statues and monuments reflect our town and that they do not contain any the negative history which this town abhors.

“The Black Lives Matter campaign has rightly focussed on the serious concerns of symbols of oppression and slavery.”

Councillor Khan believes that having streets named after people who were involved in the slave trade, colonisation and oppression, is no longer “trenable”.

He said: “Watford has been enriched by its ethnic minority citizens that have come from right across the world or born in UK. The likes of Luther Blissett, Anthony Joshua, John Barnes are but a few, who have made contributions to our town, but there are many more.”

Recommendations will be made to Watford Borough Council cabinet once people have had their say.