Council opens public consultation on slave trader street names

A council have said they will not be renaming streets but have opened a public consultation on how to acknowledge the borough’s historical links to slavery.

Merton council have said they are aware that some roads in the borough have been named after individuals who have historical links with the slave trade, either through their own actions or the actions of their families.

The consultation comes after South London Press highlighted a public campaign to change the street signs.

It relates to Marryat Road, Marryat Place, Burghley Road and Draxmont. The four roads are associated with the Burghley, Drax and Marryat families who all have links to the slave trade. There is also a Drax Avenue in Wimbledon, but this is privately owned.

The council have launched a public consultation period which will run until May 31 and aims to acknowledge and raise awareness around these links.

A spokesman from Merton council said: “While we are not proposing to rename any streets, we have put forward several proposals to acknowledge these historical links, and look forward to hearing any other proposals from residents and organisations in Merton.

“It is important to acknowledge this history and the impact these individuals’ actions have had, and continue to have, on our society.

 “The council has discussed how they should do this with our ethnic minority representatives, through the Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations, and have now launched a consultation. 

 “This is an opportunity for all Merton residents and organisations to express their views.”

Councillor Edith Macauley, chairwoman of the Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations, said: “I and the committee are happy the council is consulting with everyone in Merton about how best to acknowledge historical links to the slave trade. We hope many people will take part and give their views. 

“Speaking personally, as someone born in Africa, I remember my Afro Caribbean parents talking to me about the slave trade when I was young. 

“I understood that many African people taken to Caribbean countries as slaves did not even know where their parents were born, simply accepting the country where they ended up. 

“That is just one of the reasons it is so important to explore how best to recognise historical links here in Merton – so that future generations learn about and remember our history.” 

Pictured top: Former Merton councillor Peter Walker is calling on the council to add information to street signs of streets named after slave traders (Picture: Peter Walker)