Leith set to be streets ahead with new names

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to make sure new streets in Leith are given names based on the area's history.

The move to recognise the area's civic and maritime history as new housing developments are created was sparked by Councillor Gordon Munro.

He began with an appeal for former councillor John Crichton to be recognised with a street name. Mr Crichton, who died last month, represented the area for 35 years from 1947, and was credited with kick-starting its regeneration.

A recent meeting of the full council unanimously approved Cllr Munro's motion to add Mr Crichton's name to the bank of future street names.

Now he is calling for others to suggest street names that pay tribute to great Leithers or reflect the area's history.

Cllr Munro said: "It is apt that John has a street named after him, as it was his leadership that led to Leith's regeneration.

"His intervention saw 5 million of government money for the Leith Project. This work has continued and led to the resurgence of Leith, so having a street named after him is the least that could be done to mark this significant contribution.

"I like the idea of a street being called John Crichton Way, because he had a certain way about him - he was a nice, gentle man who never seemed to offend anybody, and that's a rare attribute in politics."

With more than 1000 homes due to be built in Leith over the next ten years, there will be no shortage of streets in need of names, but Cllr Munro said there were plenty of possibilities: "You also have major employers such as Saddler, Henry Robb, Garland & Roger, shipping lines such as the Ben Line, Currie Line, Coast Line, whisky companies such as Crawford's, Mackinlay's, Crabbie's, you have occupations such as stevedore, docker, trawler."

Cllr Munro said his interest had been sparked partly by the newly-named Goosander Place, which appeared to be named after an inland bird and had no obvious link with Newhaven.

However, a council spokesman said it was named after a Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service vessel that served in the Falklands War and was built at Robb Caledon Shipbuilders, on the site of Ocean Terminal.

The spokesman added: "We always welcome suggestions for street names. The public can put names forward through their neighbourhood partnership, which will send them to our street naming team."

Suggestions for Leith street names can be e-mailed to [email protected]. Nominations must relate to people who have died.

The great and the good

John Crichton, 1916-2010: A councillor for 35 years, he persuaded the Scottish Secretary Bruce Millan to visit Leith, sparking the first phase of investment and development in the declining dockyard areas.

Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, 1924-2005: Leith-born sculptor, pictured, whose work includes The Manuscript of Monte Casino, the sculpture in Picardy Place featuring an open palm, a section of limb and a human foot.

William Wedgwood Benn, 1877-1960: Father of Tony Benn, was MP for Leith from 1918 to 1927 and a passionate backer of the fight against amalgamation with Edinburgh.