Carrickfergus council unanimously votes to rename Prince Andrew Way, becoming first UK council to drop disgraced royal from street name.
CARRICKFERGUS: A Northern Irish council has voted to rename a street previously named after Britain’s disgraced former prince Andrew.
Mid and East Antrim council became the first UK authority to remove the ex-prince from a street name following King Charles III’s decision to remove his brother from public life.
The council voted unanimously on Monday to rename Prince Andrew Way, a main road in this town 10 miles northeast of Belfast.
“Andrew Mountbatten no longer represents the values of Carrickfergus,” said local councillor Aaron Skinner, who backed the move.
The decision comes after the King formally stripped his younger brother’s titles over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“If it’s good enough for the King to do that then it’s good enough for us,” Skinner added.
Local residents largely supported the council’s decision, with some questioning why it took so long.
“The street should have been renamed as soon as the Virginia Giuffre book was published,” said Lesley Rockett, a 41-year-old careworker.
“It reflects on the local community, so should be changed,” added 68-year-old retired power station worker William Foster.
One of the street nameplates bearing the ex-prince’s name was daubed with black paint several months ago, according to residents.
The council is now considering naming the street after other royals, including Princess Catherine and Queen Elizabeth II.
A public consultation and fresh council vote on the new name is expected in coming months.
Several town councils in England have said they are considering similar moves, though none have voted on the matter yet. – AFP
