A DECISION has been made on the possible renaming of a road in Swanage which was deemed “racially insensitive” by a holidaying family.

Following more than two months of deliberation, Dorset Council has announced Darkie Lane will not be renamed after residents living in the road elected to keep it the same.

The controversy surrounding the road in Ulwell started when Dorset Council was contacted by a family who found Darkie Lane to be an “offensive” road name.

However, after the council announced it would look into possibly renaming the road, residents expressed frustration with the perceived “political correctness gone mad” approach.

At the time, Cllr Mike Whitwam said: “I felt the decision was made purely to satisfy political correctness, which is destroying culture in this country.

“It has been called Darkie Lane for many years and nobody has taken offence except this one do-gooder who has complained to the council.”

These views were similarly felt by Echo readers, 84 per cent of whom thought the road should not be renamed.

Bournemouth Echo: Darkie Lane in Ulwell, Dorset. Picture: Max Willcock/BNPSDarkie Lane in Ulwell, Dorset. Picture: Max Willcock/BNPS

Interestingly, historical texts provided by Swanage Town Council reveal that the road was originally called simply Dark Lane until the 1930s. Dark Lane was an option proposed to residents for a possible renaming.

Following the decision, a Dorset Council spokesperson said: “Dorset Council’s ‘power’ to alter street names adopts section 21 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907 which can only be exercised ‘with the consent of two-thirds in number of the ratepayers and persons who are liable to pay an amount in respect of council tax in any street’.

“There are eight residences on Darkie Lane. We received five responses to our request for views on the naming of the road. Four replied stating their preference for no change of road name. One further response was received preferring to change the road name to something else – i.e. not to the proposed 'Dark Lane'. No responses were received from residents in favour of the option to revert the road naming to Dark Lane.

“As a two thirds majority in favour of changing the road name was not achieved, Dorset Council will no longer pursue this and we now consider the matter closed.”