Carrickfergus: Legal advice sought on Prince Andrew Way name change
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is seeking legal advice on a decision to rename Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus following intervention from a solicitor advising another local authority.
In January, the council agreed to engage with the Royal Household before pressing ahead with the renaming of the road against previous legal advice and without drafting of a street naming policy.
A report to councillors at the time indicated Mid and East Antrim Borough Council does not have a street naming or renaming policy but its legal team has advised one should be developed before the renaming proceeds.
It was recommended officers develop a policy that includes the street naming process for new developments and renaming of existing streets, roads or developments to enable the process of renaming Prince Andrew Way to be progressed.
In November, the council agreed to drop the street name after the former prince was stripped of his titles amid controversy over Andrew’s alleged links with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein which he has always denied.
Knockagh DUP Councillor Marc Collins tabled a question seeking an update on the renaming of Prince Andrew Way at a meeting of the borough council in The Braid, Ballymena, on Monday evening.
Read More Prince Andrew Way: renaming of Carrickfergus ‘street with a very particular set of circumstances' to proceed
“It is concerning that time is going on but I understand a response from the Cabinet Office will take some time,” he said. However, he queried why the council needs a barrister’s opinion.
“Surely, this is not the first street we would have renamed? I know we had a policy in the legacy Larne Council. There had been a policy in the legacy Carrick Council area, so just curious because I’m sure it’s not cheap, why we are having to go out for a barrister’s opinion on changing the name of one of our own streets.”
An officer advised following a decision in January when members opted to proceed with the street naming, the council was contacted by a solicitor from another district council stating that it had interpreted legislation differently.
Interim chief executive Valerie Watts said: "We do not want to do anything that is going to land the council in any kind of bother or attract any kind of reputational risk to council, so it is just covering our backs and making sure we are dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s in relation to the renaming of this particular street.
“But we will ensure we will try to get the barrister’s opinion as quickly as we possibly can so we are not prolonging any action that needs to be taken in order to rename that street, if so be it.”
Carrickfergus Castle DUP Alderman Billy Ashe MBE asked: “Since when did solicitors from other councils influence us?”
The interim chief executive replied: “I hear what you say but at the same time in applying due diligence to everything we do as officers, we need to be sure we are not presenting councillors with misinformation in relation to any of the actions we take. We just need to be sure we are doing everything correctly.”
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter