Barnoldswick Lib Dems blasted for wasting residents' money on street name dispute

A house building firm and local residents have criticised councillors in Barnoldswick for wasting taxpayers cash after they lost a legal dispute over naming rights of a new housing development.

Platt Developments wanted to name a new housing development off Skipton Road, 'Kirklands', after the original vicarage that stood on the site, but local councillors, Tom and David Whipp wanted it named after the former vicar, Rev Richard Milner. The developers opposed the name because it is shared with disgraced former Barnoldswick Liberal Democrat councillor who was convicted of fraud in the town in 2016.

The Council however took the dispute to court and, at Burnley Magistrates Court on April 22, a deputy district judge ruled in favour of Platt Developments and passed the name Kirklands. 

Andrew Platt, director of Platt Developments, criticised the Council's waste of money said:
"In the current climate this seems to have been totally unnecessary and council funds could have been spent elsewhere in the town."

Tom and David Whipp

David Lawson, of Donald Race and Newton, Burnley, representing Platt Developments said:
"Hopefully in the future, if (there is) another case over the naming of a new development, the ward councillors will take into consideration the developers and their views before trying to impose unsuitable names. 

This has been the most ludicrous case I have been involved in, but the outcome was successful and correct.” 

However, Cllr David Whipp was unapologetic saying:
"It’s a shame that Rev Milner won’t be remembered at the place where he built his vicarage. We’ll try to find another way of honouring him elsewhere in town.”