Attempts to stop “nampy-pamby” proposals to rename a town’s footpath have been dealt a blow after a long-running row was reignited.
In April, Faversham Town Council (FTC) came under fire for putting forward a plan to change the name of the route after Queen Matilda, the wife of medieval English monarch King Stephen.
Campaigners at the time said the alley running alongside Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School between St Mary’s Church and Abbey Place is known locally as the Shooting Meadows – though it is officially unnamed.
But the town council, which put the official naming bid to Swale Borough Council (SBC), asserts it has never been formally called anything as such.
Ann Furedi, chairwoman of the Faversham Society, told KentOnline at the time she felt the idea was “part of a namby-pamby style of politics” which had “ruffled” residents in the town.
It is understood SBC has advised the town council the name Shooting Meadows would be prohibited, for fear it could be “misconstrued”.
Under the town council’s submission, the path would be called Queen Matilda Place in recognition of her connection to the town and role in setting up Faversham Abbey.
The Faversham Society says records show it was built just to the north of the town centre, overlooking the creek and was intended to be the burial abbey of a new royal dynasty.
However, only King Stephen, Queen Matilda and their son Eustace were buried there.
In the following years, the huge abbey dominated the town and the abbot became Lord of the Manor of Faversham leading to a reported “fiery relationship” due to his power to demand taxes, tithes and penance.
The Faversham Society has now started a petition against the renaming of the walkway, which currently has more than 900 signatures.
The petition states it is against the renaming due to the historic role of the site as a practice ground for archers following a law of 1252 which stated all men aged between 15 and 60 must practice shooting.
In 1363, longbow practice became obligatory and is argued to be a contribution to the famous;y formidable force of English archers which helped the nation’s army defeat the French at notable battles during the Hundred Years War, such as Agincourt in 1415.
It was in those grounds that men of Faversham practiced every Sunday morning giving rise to the land’s name as the Shooting Meadows.
The petition adds: “People who have grown up locally, talk of their childhood scamping around in the Shooting Meadows and along the Shooting Meadow Path, which they often refer to as ‘the Shoots’.
“The official postal address of the Old Grammar School Charity is: The Shooting Meadow, Abbey Place, Faversham.”
Leader of FTC’s Labour group Cllr Rob Crayford tabled a motion to try to prevent the naming at the town council meeting on July 14.
“This isn’t about opposing change – it’s about listening to residents,” he said.
“The town council should not be pushing ahead with something that lacks clear public backing and risks alienating the community.”
However, the motion was voted down at the meeting, which Cllr Crayford argued “shows a disappointing disregard for transparency and local voices”.
Cllr Josh Rowlands (Lib Dem), Mayor of Faversham, stressed the plan for the Shooting Meadows path is “part of a project by FTC to name more streets after women”.
“Currently in Faversham there are more streets named after apples than women,” he claimed.
“There was an ongoing project by a member of the community who is no longer with us to rename that strip after Queen Matilda.”
Cllr Charles Gibson (Lib Dem), who has been spearheading the renaming effort, said: “Some residents certainly do refer to all sorts of paths as Shooting Meadows, the Shoots or the Shuts however that does not make those locations historical fact.
“It is historically accurate to name the path from Abbey Place to Cyprus Road ‘the Shuts’ as we have proposed to do as that is widely documented to be the location of the shooting meadows.
“Given the path from St Mary’s Church to Abbey Place is not documented as being part of that route – and indeed would have been a detour at various times – it is much more historically accurate to name it in honour of Queen Matilda, who almost certainly trod that route between the abbey she helped found and her probable final resting place.”
However, the final call on the naming rests with Swale Borough Council, which is yet to make a decision.
