Where do I live? Street names

Road and Street names hold an essential place in a community often being cultural markers with historical connections.

So when one is incorrectly designated it can cause all kinds of problems. 

For example roads on Owsla Park have names related to Richard Adam's book Watership Down, while those on Mill Springs are silk associated, both themes having local connections.

Confusion would reign if Loom Close was placed off Richard Adams Way or Fiver Close off Shuttle Street, and its not just for historical reasons. These days we also need to think about couriers and deliveries! No wonder parcels go missing sometimes.

Then there are names after local historical features – Waterloo Court named after the old brewery on the site, Long's Court after the Jam Factory, and Fair Close after the old fairground on the land.

And some roads are named after prominent local people, such as Brooks Close after Tommy Brooks and Mcfauld Way named after a local nurse.

Road and Street names are important to us for so many reasons.

So...

When signage goes up incorrectly not only does it means a lot to local people it is also important for visitors and trades folk, which explains why when road signs saying Winchester Street appeared half a mile away in Winchester Road at Mill Springs, the call came out:

"I don't know where I live anymore!"

Hopefully this can be put right.

Below:

A road sign in Winchester ROAD...

It needs fixing!

Dudley, Eunice and Franklin

Well, that was windy, and the Whitchurch spirit kicked in.

First Storm Dudley hit, followed by Eunice and then Franklin, while Gladys is lining up.

With damage across the town, and power cuts for some lasting many hours, the community support for each other was wonderful. That needs all our thanks.

Friday morning was spent clearing up rubbish from bins that had been flying around, and chasing fences that had blocked paths or trees that fallen on roads.

Residents immediately went into help mode as power supplies failed – generators were loaned, soup and hot food provided to neighbours, camping equipment put into service, and shed felt, nails and chainsaws shared.

Refreshments were taken out to workmen repairing the cables, hot water bottles collected for those without power and needing overnight warmth, and the elderly checked up on for safety.

The Social Club opened up to provide hot showers, free tea, coffee, wifi access, and became available for takeaway deliveries, while SSE stepped in with a food van to provide free hot sustenance.

It was not just physical help as financial support came in too, with a rapidly arranged call for funds to help the damage caused at the local animal charity Furlock Holmes raising over £1600 (at last look).

The Winner?

But the storms could not beat the Whitchurch community spirit itself which came out as winner. Its was the desire of so many to immediately jump into action to help that was so effective and worthy of much praise.

Brilliant. 🙂