“Since when did other councils influence us?” Questions raised over Prince Andrew Way renaming delay

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is seeking legal advice over its decision to rename Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, following intervention from a solicitor acting for another local authority.

In January, the council agreed to engage with the Royal Household before pressing ahead with the proposed renaming of the road, despite previous legal advice and before a formal street naming policy had been drafted.

A report presented to councillors at the time stated that Mid and East Antrim Borough Council currently has no formal street naming or renaming policy. However, its legal team advised that such a policy should be developed before the renaming process moves forward.

Officers were subsequently tasked with developing a policy covering both the naming of streets in new developments and the renaming of existing streets, roads or developments, in order to allow the process of renaming Prince Andrew Way to progress.

In November, the council agreed to remove the street name after the former prince was stripped of his titles amid controversy surrounding Andrew’s alleged links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — allegations he has always denied.

At a meeting of the borough council in The Braid, Ballymena, on Monday evening, Knockagh DUP Councillor Marc Collins tabled a question seeking an update on the renaming process.

He said: “It is concerning that time is going on, but I understand a response from the Cabinet Office will take some time.”

However, he questioned why the council now requires 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.”

A council officer explained that, following the January decision to proceed with the renaming, the authority had been contacted by a solicitor from another district council which had interpreted the relevant 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 then asked: “Since when did solicitors from other councils influence us?”

Ms Watts 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.”