Renfrew Residents Reject Renaming Andrew Avenue
Residents on a Renfrew street named Andrew Avenue have decided they do not want to change its name, despite a local council consultation sparked by concerns about its association with Prince Andrew, the former Duke of York.
BBC News reported that 22 of 52 households responded to Renfrewshire Council’s consultation, with 16 saying they would not support a formal proposal to rename the street, four in favour, and two reporting mixed views within their households.
Locals told the BBC that the potential cost and disruption of altering address details, including driving licences and business paperwork, outweighed any perceived benefit. Resident Ms Yvonne Laidlaw said she had never associated the street name with the Royal Family, while Ms Karena Quaile said a change would be “a lot of hassle for no real gain.”
The consultation was requested by councillor Mr John Shaw, who told the council meeting that residents “deserved the opportunity to have their say” and that the result was not unexpected given the inconvenience a change could bring. Related coverage has included reporting on the council’s response after the consultation as the issue drew attention locally.
While some respondents suggested alternative themes such as flowers, other residents proposed keeping the name but associating it with a different Andrew, including St Andrew or tennis star Sir Andy Murray, as the street remains part of a wider cluster also featuring Charles Avenue, Anne Avenue and Edward Avenue.
