Terrible Ward Names

[jamie]

New contender, "North East" in Barnsley council. It covers the north east of the borough but isn't some unidentifiable suburbs of Barnsley. Rather, it is 4 clearly distinguishable settlements. They could have went with clear names like "Grimethorpe" or "Shafton and Great Houghton".

[Pete Whitehead]

Grimethorpe is quite a well known place name as well

[Chris from Brum]

Jun 19, 2019 16:46:14 GMT Pete Whitehead said:

Grimethorpe is quite a well known place name as well

... as a top rated brass band (as seen and heard in "Brassed Off").

[owainsutton]

Sounds like the options were 'Grimethorpe' (and risk the wrath of the other parts of the ward), use the names of the other parts (and risk the wrath of Grimethorpe), or just go with something bland and bureaucratic.

[Pete Whitehead]

The previous ward name for the area was Brierley of course. I don't know if that caused much wrath in Grimethorpe at the time - Grimethorpe is part of Brierley parish which remains the dominant element in the ward, although Grimethorpe is the larger settlement and is more geographically central. If ward names cause so much wrath in this area, they should call it Wrath upon Dearne..

[Richard Allen]

May 5, 2019 16:27:28 GMT John Chanin said:

May 4, 2019 21:27:52 GMT Adrian said:

Am I the only one who finds this thread somewhat sacrilegious? I think tradition and heritage are fine in their place, and the naming of local government units is one of those places. For example, I suggested that the traditional name of All Saints would be a much better name for the new Birmingham ward of "Soho and Jewellery Quarter". It hardly takes much effort for someone to find out the name of the ward they live in, and once they know this piece of information I don't think it bothers them much whether the name is "modern" or whether it's comprehensible to outsiders.

The new Birmingham ward names are a paradigm for how things should be.  They all say exactly where the ward is, and everyone in Birmingham will know.

While I would accept that most of the ward names are okay I think there are too many that needlessly name two places. While some like Tyseley and Hay Mills, combine two distinct areas of similar size far too many only contain a small bit of an area that they are partially named after.

Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East is needless long. Sparkbrook gave its name to a parliamentary seat for nearly 80 years, it should stand alone as a ward name. Obviously as a knock effect Balsall Heath West would simply become Balsall Heath.

Weoley and Selly Oak contains very little of Selly Oak so should just be Weoley or Weoley Castle.

Yardley West and Stechford at best only contains a third of Stechford and as so should have simply been Yardley West.

Also Hall Green North should have been Hall Green while Hall Green South should have been Yardley Wood and I see no reason why Frankley Great Park could not simply have been Frankley. North Edgbaston is also a pretty awful name and as has been pointed out Rotton Park would have been better.

[jamie]

Noticed a few more around South Yorkshire:

Penistone East - Doesn’t include any of Penistone. “Silkstone” is the largest settlement and is quite central so would make a good name.
St Helen’s - So generic. The ward is dominated by the Athersley estate so “Athersley” would be a fine name.
Wales - Small settlement in the far west of the ward. “Kiveton” is clearly superior in size and more central to the ward.
Holderness - Nope, we ain’t travelled to East Yorkshire. “Aston and Aughton” is clearly more identifiable with the area.

[John Chanin]

Jun 20, 2019 18:35:10 GMT Richard Allen said:

May 5, 2019 16:27:28 GMT John Chanin said:

The new Birmingham ward names are a paradigm for how things should be.  They all say exactly where the ward is, and everyone in Birmingham will know.

While I would accept that most of the ward names are okay I think there are too many that needlessly name two places. While some like Tyseley and Hay Mills, combine two distinct areas of similar size far too many only contain a small bit of an area that they are partially named after.

Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East is needless long. Sparkbrook gave its name to a parliamentary seat for nearly 80 years, it should stand alone as a ward name. Obviously as a knock effect Balsall Heath West would simply become Balsall Heath. Constituency names are irrelevant in naming wards.  Balsall Heath & Sparkbrook both add up to a ward and a half, so a third of one of them has to be added to the other.  Ladypool Road is definitely Balsall Heath.  I have no objection to the longer name in this case. 

Weoley and Selly Oak contains very little of Selly Oak so should just be Weoley or Weoley Castle. Not so.  The small area of Selly Oak proper is in this ward.  The old Selly Oak ward in various incarnations includes Bournbrook, Selly Park, and bits of Bournville. Again constituency names are irrelevant.

Yardley West and Stechford at best only contains a third of Stechford and as so should have simply been Yardley West. In this case I agree with you. 

Also Hall Green North should have been Hall Green while Hall Green South should have been Yardley Wood   Possible, but a lot of Yardley Wood is in Billesley ward on the other side of the river Cole. I think local feeling played a part in this.  and I see no reason why Frankley Great Park could not simply have been Frankley. Agreed entirely - the oddest name decision in Birmingham. North Edgbaston is also a pretty awful name and as has been pointed out Rotton Park would have been better. This one is a matter of opinion which I don't feel strongly about. The ward covers a rather wider area than Rotton Park, and approximates to B16 postal district. Again local feeling played a part in this decision.

[loderingo]

Reading has quite a few bad ward names:

Minster - Doesn’t include Reading Minster. Should be Coley
Thames - Only has a tiny boundary with the River Thames. Should be Caversham Heights
Park - Does contain a park but there is more than one in Reading. Should be Newtown or Palmer Park
Church - Doesn’t contain any churches. Suggest Whiteknights as includes part of Reading university campus

[nobodyimportant]

Jun 21, 2019 11:06:10 GMT loderingo said:

Reading has quite a few bad ward names:

Minster - Doesn’t include Reading Minster. Should be Coley
Thames - Only has a tiny boundary with the River Thames. Should be Caversham Heights
Park - Does contain a park but there is more than one in Reading. Should be Newtown or Palmer Park
Church - Doesn’t contain any churches. Suggest Whiteknights as includes part of Reading university campus

Church ward does have a church in it - This one. It's not a great ward name, but Whiteknights would be worse as it only contains a small proportion of the University grounds, and none of the main buildings, none of Whiteknights Park, and none of Whiteknights Road (all of which are in Maiden Erlegh ward of Wokingham Borough Council, although the road also runs along the edge of Park ward). Perhaps if Park is being renamed Palmer Park then Church could be renamed Leighton Park?
I'm definitely in full agreement about Minster and Thames, though.

[john07]

For me the Davenport and Cale Green Ward in Stockport.

No arguments about Cale Green but Davenport?

The ward extends from the Bird Hall Lane area of Cheadle Hulme through Adswood to Heavily but manages to exclude huge chunks of Davenport including Davenport Station.

[YL]

Jun 20, 2019 20:23:04 GMT jamie said:

Noticed a few more around South Yorkshire:

Penistone East - Doesn’t include any of Penistone. “Silkstone” is the largest settlement and is quite central so would make a good name.
St Helen’s - So generic. The ward is dominated by the Athersley estate so “Athersley” would be a fine name.
Wales - Small settlement in the far west of the ward. “Kiveton” is clearly superior in size and more central to the ward.
Holderness - Nope, we ain’t travelled to East Yorkshire. “Aston and Aughton” is clearly more identifiable with the area.

I'm entirely with you on "Holderness", but "Wales" isn't that bad: I'd say it's roughly as well known a name as Kiveton Park, and it's the name of the parish. The current Rotherham ward map is pretty bad IMO both for names and the actual boundaries; the new one coming in next year is a bit better, and "Holderness" and "Valley" at least are on the way out.

Barnsley likes naming wards after the pre-1974 districts, which I think must be the explanation of "Penistone East" as well as the Dearne wards, which are fairly odd names if you look at a modern map: Dearne North doesn't actually touch the River Dearne.

[YL]

Jun 21, 2019 12:44:26 GMT nobodyimportant said:

Jun 21, 2019 11:06:10 GMT loderingo said:

Reading has quite a few bad ward names:

Minster - Doesn’t include Reading Minster. Should be Coley
Thames - Only has a tiny boundary with the River Thames. Should be Caversham Heights
Park - Does contain a park but there is more than one in Reading. Should be Newtown or Palmer Park
Church - Doesn’t contain any churches. Suggest Whiteknights as includes part of Reading university campus

Church ward does have a church in it - This one. It's not a great ward name, but Whiteknights would be worse as it only contains a small proportion of the University grounds, and none of the main buildings, none of Whiteknights Park, and none of Whiteknights Road (all of which are in Maiden Erlegh ward of Wokingham Borough Council, although the road also runs along the edge of Park ward). Perhaps if Park is being renamed Palmer Park then Church could be renamed Leighton Park?
I'm definitely in full agreement about Minster and Thames, though.

It would be quite impressive to have a ward called "Church" which doesn't actually have a church in it. Are there any examples? Or "Park" wards without a park?

[owainsutton]

Clifford, in Trafford.

Not necessarily bad, but very obscure. I've yet to find out where the name comes from.

Most people would say they live in Old Trafford, but both of the stadiums are outside of the ward, which perhaps rules it out.

Cornbrook would make a lot of sense. The culverted river flows through the ward (under Cornbrook Street, surprise surprise), and the tram stop of that name is just on the boundary.

[Adrian]

Jun 20, 2019 18:35:10 GMT Richard Allen said:

May 5, 2019 16:27:28 GMT John Chanin said:

The new Birmingham ward names are a paradigm for how things should be.  They all say exactly where the ward is, and everyone in Birmingham will know.

While I would accept that most of the ward names are okay I think there are too many that needlessly name two places. While some like Tyseley and Hay Mills, combine two distinct areas of similar size far too many only contain a small bit of an area that they are partially named after.

Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East is needless long. Sparkbrook gave its name to a parliamentary seat for nearly 80 years, it should stand alone as a ward name. Obviously as a knock effect Balsall Heath West would simply become Balsall Heath.

Weoley and Selly Oak contains very little of Selly Oak so should just be Weoley or Weoley Castle.

Yardley West and Stechford at best only contains a third of Stechford and as so should have simply been Yardley West.

Also Hall Green North should have been Hall Green while Hall Green South should have been Yardley Wood and I see no reason why Frankley Great Park could not simply have been Frankley. North Edgbaston is also a pretty awful name and as has been pointed out Rotton Park would have been better.

The Sparkbrook ward name is because some of us were objecting to the split of Balsall Heath between wards. The Commission (wrongly) decided that changing the ward names was a reasonable compromise.

"North Edgbaston" is because of snobbery. The Edgbaston name has a cachet that Rotton Park does not...

[Chris from Brum]

Jun 23, 2019 12:02:22 GMT Adrian said:

Jun 20, 2019 18:35:10 GMT Richard Allen said:

While I would accept that most of the ward names are okay I think there are too many that needlessly name two places. While some like Tyseley and Hay Mills, combine two distinct areas of similar size far too many only contain a small bit of an area that they are partially named after.

Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East is needless long. Sparkbrook gave its name to a parliamentary seat for nearly 80 years, it should stand alone as a ward name. Obviously as a knock effect Balsall Heath West would simply become Balsall Heath.

Weoley and Selly Oak contains very little of Selly Oak so should just be Weoley or Weoley Castle.

Yardley West and Stechford at best only contains a third of Stechford and as so should have simply been Yardley West.

Also Hall Green North should have been Hall Green while Hall Green South should have been Yardley Wood and I see no reason why Frankley Great Park could not simply have been Frankley. North Edgbaston is also a pretty awful name and as has been pointed out Rotton Park would have been better.

The Sparkbrook ward name is because some of us were objecting to the split of Balsall Heath between wards. The Commission (wrongly) decided that changing the ward names was a reasonable compromise.

"North Edgbaston" is because of snobbery. The Edgbaston name has a cachet that Rotton Park does not...

Having in the past lived in the B16 postcode area, I can confirm that the postal address is "Edgbaston",so on that basis North Edgbaston would be perfectly reasonable. However, there was up to the early 80's a Rotton Park ward covering a lot of the same area, and it seems a shame not to revive it.

[andrewteale]

Jun 23, 2019 9:22:38 GMT owainsutton said:

Clifford, in Trafford.

Not necessarily bad, but very obscure. I've yet to find out where the name comes from.

Most people would say they live in Old Trafford, but both of the stadiums are outside of the ward, which perhaps rules it out.

Cornbrook would make a lot of sense. The culverted river flows through the ward (under Cornbrook Street, surprise surprise), and the tram stop of that name is just on the boundary.

Wherever the name comes from it's a very old name: the Victoria County History for Manchester suggests that the Clifford ward goes back to when Stretford UDC was set up. (The other five original Stretford wards were Stretford, Longford, Trafford, Talbot and Cornbrook).

[Adrian]

Jun 23, 2019 12:09:27 GMT Chris from Brum said:

Jun 23, 2019 12:02:22 GMT Adrian said:

The Sparkbrook ward name is because some of us were objecting to the split of Balsall Heath between wards. The Commission (wrongly) decided that changing the ward names was a reasonable compromise.

"North Edgbaston" is because of snobbery. The Edgbaston name has a cachet that Rotton Park does not...

Having in the past lived in the B16 postcode area, I can confirm that the postal address is "Edgbaston",so on that basis North Edgbaston would be perfectly reasonable. However, there was up to the early 80's a Rotton Park ward covering a lot of the same area, and it seems a shame not to revive it.

Some of the ward is not in Edgbaston.

[carlton43]

Jun 23, 2019 8:14:56 GMT YL said:

Jun 20, 2019 20:23:04 GMT jamie said:

Noticed a few more around South Yorkshire:

Penistone East - Doesn’t include any of Penistone. “Silkstone” is the largest settlement and is quite central so would make a good name.
St Helen’s - So generic. The ward is dominated by the Athersley estate so “Athersley” would be a fine name.
Wales - Small settlement in the far west of the ward. “Kiveton” is clearly superior in size and more central to the ward.
Holderness - Nope, we ain’t travelled to East Yorkshire. “Aston and Aughton” is clearly more identifiable with the area.

I'm entirely with you on "Holderness", but "Wales" isn't that bad: I'd say it's roughly as well known a name as Kiveton Park, and it's the name of the parish. The current Rotherham ward map is pretty bad IMO both for names and the actual boundaries; the new one coming in next year is a bit better, and "Holderness" and "Valley" at least are on the way out.

Barnsley likes naming wards after the pre-1974 districts, which I think must be the explanation of "Penistone East" as well as the Dearne wards, which are fairly odd names if you look at a modern map: Dearne North doesn't actually touch the River Dearne.

For the past three decades I have bought all my cars in Wales which is conveniently sited to Rhodesia for my avatar!

[John Chanin]

Jun 23, 2019 12:02:22 GMT Adrian said:

Jun 20, 2019 18:35:10 GMT Richard Allen said:

While I would accept that most of the ward names are okay I think there are too many that needlessly name two places. While some like Tyseley and Hay Mills, combine two distinct areas of similar size far too many only contain a small bit of an area that they are partially named after.

Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East is needless long. Sparkbrook gave its name to a parliamentary seat for nearly 80 years, it should stand alone as a ward name. Obviously as a knock effect Balsall Heath West would simply become Balsall Heath.

Weoley and Selly Oak contains very little of Selly Oak so should just be Weoley or Weoley Castle.

Yardley West and Stechford at best only contains a third of Stechford and as so should have simply been Yardley West.

Also Hall Green North should have been Hall Green while Hall Green South should have been Yardley Wood and I see no reason why Frankley Great Park could not simply have been Frankley. North Edgbaston is also a pretty awful name and as has been pointed out Rotton Park would have been better.

The Sparkbrook ward name is because some of us were objecting to the split of Balsall Heath between wards. The Commission (wrongly) decided that changing the ward names was a reasonable compromise.

"North Edgbaston" is because of snobbery. The Edgbaston name has a cachet that Rotton Park does not...

Well would you want to live in a rotten park?  It reminds me of the wonderfully and accurately named Dismal Swamp in North Carolina.