Pro-Bell End petition overtakes campaign to change Black Country street name

Anti-Bell End campaigners said residents of the Rowley Regis street have become a ‘laughing stock’, with children who live there bullied and teased at school as a result of its risqué name.

They launched a petition to change it to a similar sounding – but less offensive – name such as Bell Road.

But this morning a new petition was started to save Bell End. It garnered almost 2,000 signatures within hours of appearing on change.org, while the petition to get rid of the name stood at around 50.

WATCH: Locals have their say on Bell End debate

It came as Bell End received enormous backing from Express & Star readers, with nearly 90 per cent of more than 4,000 readers taking part in an online poll calling for the name to be retained.

The new petition was started by Linda George and is called 'Leave the Historic Name of Bell End Alone!'

A statement says: "Bell End is an 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."

Hundreds of E&S readers have had their say over the road name, with the vast majority calling for it to be kept.

Joanne Louise Tallis said: “I have to sell houses on the road. It makes people laugh.

“It is called Bell End because it’s the last place you can hear the bells from the church at the top, maybe they could change it to Bells End and it wouldn’t be as bad?

“Although having Mincing Lane at the end and Titford Lane nearby does make you wonder if the council were drunk when they named them!”

Meanwhile Chelsiie Stanaway said the name would never die, even if it were to be changed.

“Once a bell end always a bell end,” she said. “No matter what it’s called it will always be known as it’s current name.”

Sandwell Council has vowed to look into the issue.

The street falls across two council wards – Rowley Regis and Blackheath.

Councillor Barbara Price said changing the name would be a ‘lengthy and complex’ process. “There would have to be a public consultation and the Post Office would also be involved,” she added.

Councillor David Hosell, cabinet member for highways and environment, said: “Obviously if this is an issue that residents do feel strongly about, I would ask them to forward their petition to the council and we can look at their request in more detail.”