Westbury’s Slag Lane will keep its name

FOLLOWING a public discussion last month Westbury Town Council rejected the request to rename Slag Lane. 

The proposal, which came from new residents of the lane, was made on the grounds of the name being inappropriate and offensive. Instead, they suggested the road be called Lakeside View.

Wiltshire Council is the street naming authority, but must consult town councils and Royal Mail before making any changes.

Westbury Town Council discussed the issue at the Highways, Planning & Development Committee meeting on Monday 28th July.

Chairman of the committee cllr Russell Hawker said, “The committee listened to long-standing local residents who attended the meeting and argued strongly that the name of Slag Lane correctly reflects Westbury’s heritage.

“The area was the site of an iron works which created the local mine holes or lakes and slag heaps.

“The residents who asked for the town council to support a name change did not bother to attend our meeting.

“The committee decided that the name Slag Lane is historic and appropriate in this context, and that  new residents moving into homes in Slag Lane knew perfectly well the name of the road before they moved.”