THE public is being asked to put forward suggestions for new street names in Basingstoke and Deane.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is responsible for allocating house numbers and road names, which are kept as a record in the Local Land and Property Gazetteer.

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These are often chosen as part of a theme put forward by the council, residents or developers, before being approved by the parish or town council and ward councillors.

The borough council is now asking members of the public for suggestions for new streets in the borough.

Many have already offered suggestions by posting on the council’s Facebook page.

Sarah Williams put forward Community Way as “a reminder of how everyone came together to help each other during the pandemic”.

Andy Piper suggested a theme around breeds of dogs, with street names such as Corgi Close and Jack Russell Street.

Caroline Worsfold jokingly suggested to name a street Brookside “after Sheila and Bobby ran away from Liverpool to Basingstoke”.

There are already lots of interesting themes to discover in the borough.  In Whitchurch there is Richard Adams Way, named after the author of Watership Down. Surrounding streets are also named after characters from the novel including Blackberry Lane and Hazel Way.

In Portico Way in Chineham and you will find road names related to the architectural characteristics of The Vyne or features within the grounds.

Royal Gardens in Tadley is named after the Cinema Royal that was previously on the site and if you visit Tobago Close in Popley you’ll find other streets named after islands including Trinidad Close, Malta Close and Bermuda Close.

Papermakers in Overton is named in recognition of its location being near to Overton Paper Mill and Osler Close in Bramley is named after a local villager who rang the church bells.

Many street names also pay tribute to local people who lost their lives in war, an example of this is John Liddell Way. This street is named after a soldier who received the Victoria Cross in World War I and is buried in the South View Cemetery.

Cabinet member for the natural environment and climate improvement Cllr Mark Ruffell said: “There are some very interesting street names and themes around the borough and it is wonderful when they tell a story linking to the local area.

"I’m sure we’ve all wondered where certain names come from and it is important that residents as well as local parish, town and borough councillors have a chance to input into what the names of new streets in the borough should be.”

You can email an idea to GMSTeam@basingstoke.gov.uk.

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