Town Hall red tape has failed to stop campaigners who want the right to name a street in Lambeth after former Prime Minister Sir John Major. Earlier this year the dead hand of council bureaucracy threatened to stop the proposal in its tracks when the likelihood of an objection from the London Fire Brigade was raised on the grounds that there is already a Major Close in London SW9.
Councillor John Whelan, Conservative Group Leader and a member of the London Fire Authority, decided he wouldn't take no for an answer and put the authority's Livingstone-appointed chair on the spot at last week's authority meeting. Her response reads: "There were earlier information discussions with officers from the London Borough of Lambeth at which the possibility of an objection
Councillor Clare Whelan, Environment Scrutiny Committee Chair, adds: "I have advised John Major about this and he is proud to have his name associated with Lambeth where he spent some of his childhood and formative years in politics serving as Lambeth Council's Chair of Housing. Lambeth officers confirmed to me on Friday in writing that the name is cleared for inclusion in the name bank."
This issue in the news
Major road ahead - South London Press, Friday 28th July 2006 [PDF]
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