After a commotion from residents, officials have changed their minds about renaming the road that was considered racially sensitive by a family vacationing in Spain.
Darkie Lane’s name was given to it more than 70 year ago. It is lined with elm and hedgerows, which made it darker and more shaded.
After receiving a letter complaining from a family vacationing in Swanage Dorset this summer, the council accepted to change its name.
The road’s name was racial and could be offensive to other people, given the nation’s history.
Swanage Town Council had voted for Dark Lane to be changed, but Dorset Council decided after more than two months that it would not change its name.
Swanage Town Council has been forced to reverse their plan to change Darkie Lane’s name to Dark Lane. They failed to get consent from two-thirds the residents of the lane.
Four of the eight homes on Darkie Lane objected, while one proposed that it be changed to Dark Lane. Three residents did not reply.
According to a spokesperson for Dorset Council, there are 8 residences along Darkie Lane. Five of these responded to the council’s request for opinions on the road’s naming.
The road was named as it is.
According to the spokesperson, the power of Dorset Council to change street names cannot be used without the approval of at least two thirds of ratepayers or persons liable for council tax on any street.
Darkie Lane was named for the shade that trees cast on its entire length.
Historical documents that date back to 1930s indicate that Darkie Lane as it’s known on maps was once called “Dark Lane” – the name changing over the years.
“As the two-thirds majority required to change the road’s name wasn’t achieved, Dorset Council has decided not to pursue the matter further and will now close the case.
According to historical documents, the original name of the road was Dark Lane. It has been renamed back to the original name by Swanage Town Council.
Mike Bonfield was chair of Swanage Town Council’s planning committee.
Map from 1909 showing modern-day Darkie Lane rendered as “Dark Lane”.
Swanage Street Directory, 1934. The road is called ‘Dark Lane’. Residents opposed attempts by the council to change the name to match its historic title, calling it “political correctness gone mad”.
“Without historical documents, I wouldn’t have supported the change. It is important to protect our history.”
Cllr Mike Whitwam was the sole member to oppose the decision. He stated: “I feel the decision was made in order to satisfy political correctness which is destroying the culture of this country.
“It was called Darkie Lane over many years. Nobody has taken offense, except one person who made a complaint to the council.
The U-turn has been hailed by residents as commonsense.
On social media, one said: “Hallelujah!” Once again, common sense prevailed over political correctness.
One person said that it was unfortunate it took two months to come up with the correct conclusion. Another asked how much the taxpayer had lost because of this “woke-driven nonsense”.