Safety Drive and Eco Way: How Britain's changing street names really ARE a sign of the times!!

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Safety Drive and Eco Way: How Britain's changing street names really ARE a sign of the times

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 3:42 PM on 28th March 2010

 

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They are a reflection of an increasingly multi-cultural and environmentally-aware society.

Streets across Britain are being given 'modern' names such as Karma Way, Safety Drive and Euro Close.

Much like the Romans did 2,000 years ago, road names are celebrating the world in which we live.

 

Reflection of society: Euro Close in Brent, north London, may be the perfect address for the financially motivated

 

Dr David Green, a geographer from King's College London, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Street names reflect modern culture and society and preoccupations. They now also show a worldwide influence.'

Among the streets with a meditative theme are Karma Way in Harrow, north London, and Samsara Road in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Both use phrases from Indian religions to do with cause and effect and reincarnation respectively.

Meanwhile, perhaps Yoga Way in Sutton, south London, is a relaxing place to live. Or the financially motivated may want to move to Euro Close in Brent, north London.

Others follow an environmental theme. Eco Way in Doncaster and Sustainability Way in Leyland, Lancashire, are both products of a society aware of scientists' claims about climate change.

 

Eco Way in Doncaster: Street signs mirror modern preoccupations in the same way as they did with the Romans' 2,000 years ago

 

 

 

Modern concern: Poole Council renamed Salamander Road as Safety Drive after a new fire station was built

 

Many road names reflect Britain's immigrant communities.

Polonez Court in Swindon shares its name with a Communist-era car manufacturer. The Berkshire town has seen an influx of eastern Europeans so the local council has approved the use of 15 Polish words for new developments. Oberek Lane is named after a folk dance.

An Arabic term for mosque has been used to name Masjid Lane in Tower Hamlets, east London, while there is an Allama Iqbal Road in Bolton, Greater Manchester, named after Sir Muhammad Iqbal, an early 20th Century poet who was a strong advocator of the spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation.

Salaam Court in Peterborough, meanwhile, uses the Arabic word for peace.

 

Relaxing address: Karma Way, in Harrow, north London, is one of several street names to draw inspiration from an Indian religion

 

 

A survey for the Sunday Telegraph of street names coined in the last ten years also found an increase in roads called 'plaza', 'heights' and 'boulevard', perhaps reflecting the increased Americanisation of British culture.

John Wittich, an author who has written about London street names, said: 'The influence of immigration on place names has always been happening and it will go on and on.

'We've still got streets and places named after the Romans. There were streets named after Jewish immigrants.'

 

Sign of the times: Yoga Way in Sutton, south London

 

 

Polonez Court is one of 15 Polish words for new developments in Swindon

 

 

Environmentally aware: Green Way road sign in Greenwich, south-east London

 

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