Radstock Town Councillors, Chris Dando and Anne Marie Jovcic-Sas, are calling on local people to give their views on a new street name in the NRR town centre development – so that they can override the suggestion made by the Town Council and present it to B&NES Council instead, which will then make the final decision.

"Late last year, the Council was asked to make recommendation on prospective names for the new road running the length of the housing development in the middle of Radstock," said Cllr Anne Marie Jovcic-Sas, who is hoping to stand as a Labour and Co-operative candidate in the B&NES Council elections in May.

"There was quite a debate and opinions were split down the middle – half the Councillors present favoured one option, while half favoured another. The final decision was made by the Chair's casting vote, hardly the most democratic method of making a decision."

The choices were narrowed down to Nelson Ward Drive or Marcroft Drive – the former being named after an eighteenth century rector of St Nicholas' Church, who was the grandson of the famous Admiral Lord Nelson; the latter after the former rail wagon works that were located on the site.

"Over the Christmas and New Year period, lots of people have been giving me their views of the two names discussed," said Cllr Chris Dando, who is also hoping to stand as a Labour and Co-operative candidate in the B&NES Council elections.

"My personal preference was for using the Marcroft name, as a tribute to the many hundreds of working people who toiled on the site over the years. Radstock's industrial heritage is just as important as its church heritage and not enough is done to recognise the true value of the working class in our cultural heritage.

"This is too important an issue to be left to a small meeting of nine Councillors at an evening meeting with hardly any members of the public present," said Cllr Jovcic-Sas.

"By providing a short online survey, we are hoping more people will engage with the process and a more representative view is gathered."

To take part in the survey, please go to the following website: https://www.survey">https://www.survey monkey.com/r/9W3GMGK

Speaking to The Journal this week, Cllr Lesley Mansell, Chair of Radstock Town Council, who made the casting vote, said: "At the end of the day, the road name put forward is only a recommendation to B&NES Council.

"These are long-standing Councillors who know full well the rules and the decision was made as set out in the standing orders and as advised by the Clerk at the time.

"I find it unfortunate that Councillors who know the process well are saying that it is undemocratic. We have had other split votes in the past that haven't been challenged."

Cllrs Jovcic-Sas and Dando will inform Town Councillors of the survey at the next meeting on 19th January and hope to present their findings to B&NES at the end of the month.