ROAD signs that have been a topic of conversation in the town for many years are finally being re-installed this month, Wiltshire Council has confirmed.
Slag Lane in Westbury hit the national headlines at the start of the month with tabloids saying that the name had “divided a community” as new residents to the area had requested for the name to be changed. However, Wiltshire Council says they have not received any complaints over the road name in the past five years.
A request was made by the town council to reinstate the road signs last year after it was reportedly knocked down by a bus making a left turn.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, cabinet member for transport at Wiltshire Council said, “We haven’t had any requests from residents or Westbury Town Council to change the name of the road in the last five years.
“Whilst we are unsure what had happened to the original signage, the replacement signage has already been installed at the junction of Station Road and a second sign for the other side of the road is still on order, but should be installed by the end of February.”
Sally Hendry, chair of the local Heritage Society and Westbury Museum explained the importance of the link with Westbury’s industrial past, when slag was a by-product in the smelting of iron ore. She said, “Slag Lane of course commemorates a significant part of our town’s industrial history. Iron ore beds were discovered in 1841 when the town’s railway line was being cut, and this led to the creation of the Great Western Iron Ore Smelting Co which opened in 1858.
“Its giant furnaces were a familiar landmark in the town with the ironworks providing employment for as many as 200 people in its heyday. The business declined after the First World War but there are still reminders of this important industry. As well as the naming of Slag Lane, you can still see contours in nearby fields where tracks once carried the ore and the many lakes and ponds are simply flooded open cast pits.
“I am sure everyone would agree it is important to keep our town heritage alive and the naming of roads is just one way to do it; note names like Laverton Court, Phipps Close, Glovers Walk to name just a few.
“Perhaps a compromise might be for the new signage to include a secondary strapline so it could read Slag Lane – marking the site of the former Westbury Ironworks.”
Local councillor for the area, Carole King added, “The naming of Slag Lane is just another reminder of a once prosperous company who provided significant employment to Westbury in its time. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that an alternative definition was picked up by the national papers but really, it’s about time that definition was relegated to the history books, along with so many other words used to demean women!”
