Post by Sherford on Jul 26, 2008 6:05:03 GMT
www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Villagers-fear-confusion-cause-chaos/article-238104-detail/article.html
Villagers fear name confusion will cause chaos
17:28 - 25-July-2008
A TINY South Devon village which fears its name is being stolen by a major new town just 20 miles away has been told tough luck.
The village of Sherford near Kingsbridge, with a population of less than 1,000, dates back to the Domesday Book.
The new town of Sherford will have some 5,500 homes on the outskirts of Plymouth. It has yet to be built.
But Sherford villagers already fear there will be major confusion involving delivery lorries and emergency services unless the new town is given a new name.
But they have been told changing the new town's name will cost money and cause too much confusion to people living at the western end of the South Hams and Plymouth.
South Hams executive councillor Mike Saltern said that one day the council could look at renaming the new town with something like Newton Sherford or Sherford Newton – but not now.
Sherford's district and county councillor Julian Brazil warned villagers would be 'disappointed and concerned' at the decision.
He added: “If you are calling the emergency services and say Sherford, what guarantee can there be that somebody at the emergency centre in Exeter is going to understand which Sherford that is?”
Residents of Sherford fear their village, with is 14th century church, will not only lose its identity but will also end up swamped with cars and lorries heading for the new town site 20 miles down the road, especially if they are using sat-nav equipment.
Mr Brazil had asked South Hams Council if naming the new town Sherford is actually an example of good planning.
Mr Saltern said that, while he understood the concerns of Sherford villagers, changing the name at the moment would involve the cost of re-branding the new town and changing a huge amount of documentation.
“There is the potential to cause confusion to communities at the western end of the district and Plymouth,” he said.
He said the new town name was based on local places including the Sherford Valley and West East and Higher Sherford farms.
And he claimed that the 'difference in scale' between the two communities would help to avoid any confusion.
He also said that the council would be prepared to consider a different name for the new town some time in the future but, for the time being, it would keep the 'working title' of Sherford.
Villagers fear name confusion will cause chaos
17:28 - 25-July-2008
A TINY South Devon village which fears its name is being stolen by a major new town just 20 miles away has been told tough luck.
The village of Sherford near Kingsbridge, with a population of less than 1,000, dates back to the Domesday Book.
The new town of Sherford will have some 5,500 homes on the outskirts of Plymouth. It has yet to be built.
But Sherford villagers already fear there will be major confusion involving delivery lorries and emergency services unless the new town is given a new name.
But they have been told changing the new town's name will cost money and cause too much confusion to people living at the western end of the South Hams and Plymouth.
South Hams executive councillor Mike Saltern said that one day the council could look at renaming the new town with something like Newton Sherford or Sherford Newton – but not now.
Sherford's district and county councillor Julian Brazil warned villagers would be 'disappointed and concerned' at the decision.
He added: “If you are calling the emergency services and say Sherford, what guarantee can there be that somebody at the emergency centre in Exeter is going to understand which Sherford that is?”
Residents of Sherford fear their village, with is 14th century church, will not only lose its identity but will also end up swamped with cars and lorries heading for the new town site 20 miles down the road, especially if they are using sat-nav equipment.
Mr Brazil had asked South Hams Council if naming the new town Sherford is actually an example of good planning.
Mr Saltern said that, while he understood the concerns of Sherford villagers, changing the name at the moment would involve the cost of re-branding the new town and changing a huge amount of documentation.
“There is the potential to cause confusion to communities at the western end of the district and Plymouth,” he said.
He said the new town name was based on local places including the Sherford Valley and West East and Higher Sherford farms.
And he claimed that the 'difference in scale' between the two communities would help to avoid any confusion.
He also said that the council would be prepared to consider a different name for the new town some time in the future but, for the time being, it would keep the 'working title' of Sherford.
