A ROW has erupted over unionist proposals to rename a road where a new council has its headquarters after Queen Elizabeth.
Unionists on Antrim and Newtownabbey council put forward a proposal to change the name of Stiles Way in Antrim to Queen Elizabeth II Way.
DUP councillor Phillip Brett proposed the motion on Monday night to mark Queen Elizabeth becoming the longest reigning British monarch.
But nationalist councillors have criticised the move as the new council's headquarters are located on Stiles Way.
Sinn Féin councillor Anne Marie Logue accused the DUP of "raising tensions" in the area.
"They did not even consider the importance of the need to consult with residents never mind the administration costs to the council and businesses on this route by changing the address – a further cost to ratepayers," she said.
SDLP councillor Thomas Burns said it was a "crazy idea that the DUP was coming forward with".
Mr Burns said he would not take issue with naming a new road after Queen Elizabeth but said current routes should not be renamed.
DUP councillor Nigel Kells dismissed concerns and said the proposal was intended as a "nice gesture" to recognise the longest reigning British monarch.
But referring to a Newry play park being named after an IRA man in 2001, he added: "I certainly won't take any lectures from Sinn Féin and the SDLP, two parties who were involved in naming a play park after a terrorist."
The council - which is a merger of the former Antrim Borough and Newtownabbey Borough councils - said that following discussion a majority of councillors voted for a consultation process to be carried out before reporting to the council.
It said there is no council policy on street naming and each proposal is considered on an individual basis.
Some roads in the council area are already named after the British monarchy including Prince Charles Way in Newtownabbey.
Last year Belfast City Council rejected proposals to name a street after physicist John Stewart Bell due to traditionally avoiding using the names of people. However, in February this year councillors overturned the decision.
