Dorset Road could be renamed after holidaymakers complained it was racist

A street in Dorset could change its name after tourists complained that some people might find it racist.

Dorset County Council said it had been contacted by a concerned family vacationing at a property in Darkie Lane in Ulwell, Swanage.

The family felt the name might be offensive to some given the UK’s colonial history.

Officials referred the matter to Swanage City Council, which discussed it in a meeting on October 4.

Swanage Councilors voted in favor of recommending Dorset Council consider changing the street name from Darkie Lane to Dark Lane.

The lane appears on Google Maps and GPS systems as Darkie Lane. But historical records show it was called Dark Lane before the 1930s.

It appears to have been given the name Dark Lane because it is partially shaded by trees.

Following Swanage’s recommendation, Dorset Council is now considering a range of options on what to do about the name.

These include doing nothing – leaving Darkie Lane as the official name and changing the name to Dark Lane to preserve historical context, “while minimizing the potential for infringement.”

Some have called the process “political correctness” gone mad.

Mike Whitwam, a Swange adviser who voted against the recommendation, told the Daily Echo: “I have a lot of close black friends and the name is not at all damaging.

“I felt the decision was made only to satisfy political correctness, which is destroying culture in this country.”

He added “It has been called Darkie Lane for many years and no one took offense except for this benefactor who complained to the council.”

It is not known why or how Dark Lane was changed to Darkie Lane in the 1930s.

A spokesperson for Swanage City Council said: “This case has been referred [us] following a complaint received by Dorset Council and it was discussed at the Planning and Advisory Committee meeting held on Monday 4th October.

“At the meeting, city councilors voted in favor of recommending Dorset Council consider renaming Darkie Lane to Dark Lane, which would preserve the historical context, while minimizing the potential for infringement.”

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that Dorset Council received a complaint over the summer from a holidaymaker about the name Darkie Lane in Swanage, which they found offensive.

“In response, we looked at the historical records of the name of this road (which was originally called Dark Lane due to its shady location) and asked Swanage city councilors for their perspective.”

The spokesperson added: “This issue has been discussed and we await a formal response from Swanage following their discussion. We will also consult with residents living on this road to get their views on the name of the road before a final decision is made. “

Dorset County Council is deciding whether to rename a road named Darkie Lane after receiving a complaint from a holidaymaker that it could be viewed as racist.

“A family vacationing in Swanage wrote to express concern about finding their accommodation on a street using a name they found offensive and which they felt could offend others very easily given our national history.

“The historical context of the name is allegedly innocent, as the path is” dark “and” shady “- although this does not avoid the potential to offend, especially for visitors to the area who are unlikely to be aware of it. of this context.

“The Dorset Council Street Naming and Numbering Policy makes it clear that when designating new developments / streets it will not be acceptable to use a name which” might offend or be considered discriminatory, particularly in this regard. which concerns age, disability, race and ethnicity, faith and belief. , sexual orientation, gender and sex.

“Although the policy does not take into account the circumstances of this specific case, the underlying principles regarding the naming of streets are that they be inclusive given the diversity of our communities and our visitor populations.”

A spokesperson for Swanage City Council said: “This case has been referred [us] following a complaint received by Dorset Council and it was discussed at the Planning and Advisory Committee meeting held on Monday 4th October.

“At the meeting, city councilors voted in favor of recommending Dorset Council consider renaming Darkie Lane to Dark Lane, which would preserve the historical context, while minimizing the potential for infringement.”

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that Dorset Council received a complaint over the summer from a holidaymaker about the name Darkie Lane in Swanage, which they found offensive.

“In response, we looked at the historical records of the name of this road (which was originally called Dark Lane due to its shady location) and asked Swanage city councilors for their perspective.

“This issue has been discussed and we await a formal response from Swanage following their discussion.

“We will also consult with residents living on this road to get their views on the naming of the road before a final decision is made.”