A north-east street will be named after William Wallace despite protests that politics should not play a part in the naming process.
A row broke out between Fraserburgh councillors when proposals to christen part of a new housing development near the town’s Quarry Road in memory of the “Braveheart” Scot were first tabled
Councillors from the town were asked to draw up a list of 15 street names, with the SNP’s Charles Buchan and Brian Topping and Independent Michael Watt including Wallace Way as a preference.
However, SNP-turned-Independent councillor Ian Tait was yesterday accused of refusing to work with his fellow ward members to come up with the list – resulting in a heated debate at yesterday’s Banff and Buchan area committee meeting.
Emotions spilled over when Mr Watt, Mr Buchan and Mr Topping beat out an amended version of names from Mr Tait.
Mr Topping said each local councillor had been given the opportunity to provide three names for the housing development, and claimed his colleague had declined to cooperate.
But Mr Tait refuted this and suggested he would be pressing the issue of the names with the authority’s head of legal services.
He said he was not prepared to accept “political names” for streets, and said they instead should look to Fraserburgh’s own past for inspiration.
He said: “I believe street naming should be free from politics and kept for those who are famous sons and daughters of Fraserburgh, or who have brought great benefit or kudos to Fraserburgh. As I said at the meeting, where in Fraserburgh is there a reference to Wallace? Nowhere.
“I received many complaints from constituents last time about this name which is why I want no politics in this.”
Mr Topping added he was “disappointed” with the outcome of the meeting.
He said: “I hoped we could all sit down and come to an agreement.
“We got suggestions from skippers and from fisher folk, and we feel we worked together.”
Councillors voted six to four in favour of the list including Wallace Way. Other streets will be called Merryhillock Road, Saltire Crescent and Ferme Court.