Welcome to Wokeville: Labour Birmingham council is accused of virtue signalling after giving new streets 'inspirational' names like 'Diversity Grove' and 'Equality Road'

  • England's biggest council called two of roads Diversity Grove and Equality Road
  • The others were Destiny Road, Inspire Avenue, Respect Way and Humanity Close
  • The titles were decided by panel of judges after locals were asked to send ideas
  • Louise Kilbride of Handsworth Wood won with a 'cohesion/shared values' theme

By JAMES GANT FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Birmingham City Council has been accused of virtue signalling after it gave six new streets 'woke' names.

England's biggest council called the roads in Perry Barr: Diversity Grove, Equality Road, Destiny Road, Inspire Avenue, Respect Way and Humanity Close.

The titles were decided by a panel of judges after locals were asked to submit suggestions for the 1,400 addresses.

The winner was Louise Kilbride from Handsworth Wood, whose theme was based on 'cohesion and shared values for Perry Barr and surrounding areas'.

But the Labour-run council has been slammed for virtue signalling, with Brummies taking to social media to air their 'embarrassment' at the 'woke' names.

Birmingham City Council ran a competition for locals to name six streets on a 1,400-home development - but the winning choice has been criticised

Birmingham City Council ran a competition for locals to name six streets on a 1,400-home development - but the winning choice has been criticised

Birmingham City Council has been accused of virtue signalling after it gave six new streets 'woke' names

Birmingham City Council has been accused of virtue signalling after it gave six new streets 'woke' names

England's biggest council called the roads in Perry Barr: Diversity Grove, Equality Road, Destiny Road, Inspire Avenue, Respect Way and Humanity Close

England's biggest council called the roads in Perry Barr: Diversity Grove, Equality Road, Destiny Road, Inspire Avenue, Respect Way and Humanity Close

The new road names were decided by a panel of seven made up of councillors, businessmen and a local resident.

Corbynista who named Wokeville

Louise Kilbride, from Handsworth Wood, who won the competition to rename the roads in the Labour-run council is a Jeremy Corbyn supporter.

Ms Kilbride, who works for the homelessness charity SIFA Fireside, has recently criticised Sir Keir Starmer for 'failing to bring unity to the Labour party,' writing on Facebook: 'Reinstate Jeremy Corbyn.'

She was previously the co-director of Kilbride Smith Partnership, which offered research and consultancy in equality and diversity, and community development.

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They included: Cllr Waseem Zaffar, Cllr Morriam Jan, CEO of Great Health Care for the Community Zulfigar Khan, Chair of Holford Drive Community Sports Hub Ltd Lincoln Moses, local resident Aisha Masood, Lendlease Project Director for the Perry Barr Residential Scheme Anna Evans and Birmingham City Council Development Planning Manager Rebecca Farr.

The criteria for the names were that they should have a local connection, could not be a person's name, not already in use and not serving any commercial interest.

Ms Kilbride, who lives a mile away from the new streets, said: 'I came across the street naming competition in the council's e-newsletter.

'It got me thinking about street names that could in some way reflect the diversity of the Perry Barr area – names that would have a positive meaning for local people and echo my belief that everyone deserves decent housing.

'That's when I thought of these names and I feel honoured that these have been picked.' 

Cllr Waseem Zaffar said: 'The names put forward by Louise struck a chord with everyone on the panel and the chosen values captured the essence of Perry Barr and indeed the city of Birmingham as a whole.'

But the names were slammed online within hours of the announcement, with one man writing: 'You've missed, 'Virtual Signalling Traffic Lights.'

One man posted: 'Seriously!?! You could have chosen to mark some of the great people from across Birmingham's multi-cultural community.

'Instead THIS is what you came up with?! A series of banal buzz words for a series of roads that won't even play host to the commonwealth athletes. WHAT A JOKE!'

Another wrote: 'Patronising beyond belief. So out of touch. The whole set up as been at total embarrassment to the good folk of Perry Barr and Birmingham!'

Criteria for the names were that they should have a local connection, could not be a person's name, not already in use and not serving any commercial interest

Criteria for the names were that they should have a local connection, could not be a person's name, not already in use and not serving any commercial interest

The names, which include 'Respect Way,' were described as 'patronising beyond belief' and out of touch,' with locals living on or near the housing scheme

The names, which include 'Respect Way,' were described as 'patronising beyond belief' and out of touch,' with locals living on or near the housing scheme

Equality Road, not to be mistaken for 'Equality Street,' the title of a song released by Ricky Gervais' character David Brent, was one of the names to be chosen

Equality Road, not to be mistaken for 'Equality Street,' the title of a song released by Ricky Gervais' character David Brent, was one of the names to be chosen

More than 1,000 homes are being built on the former Birmingham City University campus, after approval was given by the city council in August 2019

More than 1,000 homes are being built on the former Birmingham City University campus, after approval was given by the city council in August 2019

Names for the Perry Bar development's streets have been criticised, as one Twitter user pointed out 'you could have chosen to mark some of the great people from across Birmingham's multi-cultural community'

Names for the Perry Bar development's streets have been criticised, as one Twitter user pointed out 'you could have chosen to mark some of the great people from across Birmingham's multi-cultural community'

Competition winner Louise Kilbride said she picked the street names 'that would have a positive meaning for local people and echo my belief that everyone deserves decent housing'

Competition winner Louise Kilbride said she picked the street names 'that would have a positive meaning for local people and echo my belief that everyone deserves decent housing'

Judges said they were impressed by the 'creativity' of the street names, but locals are less than impressed with the winning entries

Judges said they were impressed by the 'creativity' of the street names, but locals are less than impressed with the winning entries

One man commented: 'Good Lord how embarrassing. Could they have not called them after our local sporting greats Denise Lewis, Tessa Sanderson, Nick Gillingham etc.'

Cllr Waseem Zaffar was on the panel which decided the name

Cllr Waseem Zaffar was on the panel which decided the name

Another put: 'I'm calling it now. Someone's going to put a D at the end of HUMANITY CLOSE.'

One person branded it 'utter woke nonsense', while another asked: 'Where's 'Woke Lane' or 'Womxn Street'?'

A woman said: 'Presumably, the list of options gave little choice.... I wonder how many actually participated in the 'competition'.

'Pity the people who have to live in those places (speaking as a resident of Birmingham)!'

And one social media user added: 'Is that the best you could come up with? Embarrassing.'

Titles like Humanity Close have been described as a 'series of banal buzz words' for the development

Titles like Humanity Close have been described as a 'series of banal buzz words' for the development

The 1,400 houses are set to be complete by 2023 - a year after the Commonwealth Games are held in Birmingham

The 1,400 houses are set to be complete by 2023 - a year after the Commonwealth Games are held in Birmingham

The 1,400 houses are being built on the former Birmingham City University Campus and are expected to be finished by 2023.

Lendlease, the principal contractor, came up with the idea of a street naming contest.

Project Director Anna Evans said: 'These are wonderful street names for the vibrant new neighbourhood we are creating.

'Congratulations to Louise, who has helped play an important role in the future history of Perry Barr.'

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