Street names confusion is ear to stay

Published on Thursday 31 July 2008 10:48

CALLS from community leaders to change similar-sounding street names in Leith, Morningside and Gorgie have been dismissed by council leaders.

Head of Planning Alan Henderson acknowledged that the historic St Clair Street in Leith and St Clair Terrace in Morningside sound similar to roads built in 1998 beginning with the prefix Sinclair.

But in a letter to the South West Neighbourhood Partnership, he said: "It is current practice to only consider renaming a street where there have been significant problems experienced by either the residents or the emergency services in locating properties, with public safety being a high priority.

"Our records show that this department has not received any complaints from the emergency services or from the residents themselves regarding any problems they have experienced from these similar-sounding names since the Sinclair streets were built ten years ago.

"Renaming of streets is a highly disruptive process, and if we were to consider such an action, a large number of residents would be affected."

City planning leader Jim Lowrie added: "The renaming of streets is complicated and disruptive, but if you wish you can ask the neighbourhood partnerships to take the matter further."