In 2014, there was a survey conducted to discover the rudest place name in the UK. In first place came Minge Lane with Slag Lane in Lowton, Lancashire, and Fanny Hands Lane in Ludford, Lincolnshire, making up the rest of the top three.
In fourth place was Bell End - it's located at Rowley Regis in Sandwell, West Midlands. The area has made the news again because there's a war of words developing over its name.
They argue that "the term 'Bell End' can be seen and used as a rude and/or an offensive word. As well as this, it can affect people and children including children being bullied and teased at school and generally now become a laughing stock."
The petition states that it's "time for a change" and that "we want the local Sandwell Council to acknowledge our name change request to a new road name and at the very least to a similar name. The local councillors for the local area will be contacted too."
A change of name to Bells Road has been proposed, however, there's another petition that
wants to retain the name.
That
particular petition states that: "Bell End is a historic name in Rowley Regis. Believed to be named after a mine in the locality. My Great Uncle's family lived and kept a shop there, long after his death in WW1.Moving forward to today, none of the residents and locals and those that have long-standing family connections, that are known to me want this pointless change and in fact find the suggestion that it should be changed, deeply offensive.If children are being bullied because of the name of their road, the problem is the bullying children, who need educating. Changing a road name will not stop their behaviour."
At present, the petition to keep the name Bell End has 2,393 of its required 2,500 signatures. On the opposite side of things, the petition to remove the name has 48 of the required 100 signatures.
