Coventry residents in two wards are being asked to vote on whether their areas should be renamed, following a petition signed by 241 people.
Leaflets have been delivered to households in Tile Hill and Canley ward and Woodlands ward asking for their views on the proposed changes. The council opened an online consultation on 9 September that runs until 21 October, with responses submitted via QR code or a council account.
What the proposed names are
For Tile Hill and Canley ward, residents can choose between the current name or "Canley and Tile Hill South".
For Woodlands ward, the alternatives are the current name or "Eastern Green and Tile Hill North".
The alternative names were suggested by the creator of the petition. The council spent £5,500 on producing and delivering the consultation leaflets.
Why some residents oppose the changes
Several residents have voiced concerns about the proposal. Tile Hill resident Joel Lewis said he was "completely against the proposed name change", calling it "a pointless waste of time and money that could be spent on actual problems here".
Tile Hill resident Neil Worwood noted that Tile Hill and Canley ward was only recently renamed from Westwood following boundary changes last year. "The name has only recently been changed from Westwood to Tile Hill and Canley ward. Who in their right mind would be asking to change it yet again?" he said.
Worwood also raised a procedural concern: "You could end up with two wards being requested to be called Woodlands and that to me is an absolute joke".
Council and councillor positions
John McNicholas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, said the council is "obliged to consider petitions" and is "following a process of democracy to ensure people's voices are heard". On the potential duplication issue, he said: "You can't have two wards called Woodlands, that's an absolute nonsense."
McNicholas also addressed accessibility concerns raised by Woodlands councillor Julia Lepoidevin, who noted that older residents could be excluded by the online-only submission method. McNicholas said support was available through local libraries and that "every help will be given to ensure the consultation that is taking place can be heard by everybody".
Tile Hill and Canley councillor Marcus Lapsa said he saw little benefit in changing the names. "I think Tile Hill and Canley are perfect for the area, and people of Tile Hill are proud to be part of a vibrant community."
Woodlands councillor Adrian Bryant said he understood the logic behind reviewing ward names but did not see it as a priority. "Given the current economic climate and the range of challenges facing local residents and the council, there are many other matters that I believe warrant greater attention," he said.
What happens next
The consultation results will be considered by McNicholas in November. If the council decides a name change may be appropriate, it will need to consult the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, as fewer than five years have passed since Coventry's electoral boundaries were last reviewed.