WHAT'S in a name? Quite a lot according to residents in North Dorset, where two roads with the same name are causing mass confusion.

Plans are afoot to rename Meadow Road in Blandford because residents of a road with the same name in Charlton Marshall have had post going missing and visitors heading for the wrong town.

One Charlton Marshall lady even feared her husband was moving out when a moving van mistakenly turned up at her property.

But some Blandford residents say they'll consider making a compensation claim against the district council because of the inconvenience of having to register new details with utility companies and friends and family.

And it could cost the council up to £18,000 in compensation, if each of the 60 householders appeal and are awarded up to £300.

One such householder wrote: "When we moved 14 months ago, informing friends, relatives, utilities, insurance companies, DVLC, bank, National Savings and many others was a time-consuming exercise.

"I'm not prepared to do this again at my own expense, in terms of both time and money. Is the council going to pay?"

The problem occurred when Blandford Town Council used its delegated powers to vote in favour of the new name some years ago. The district council thought that different postcodes would prevent any case of mistaken location.

But the massive problems encountered since spurred them into consulting as to a possible name change for the Blandford street.

Sixty letters were sent to home-owners there. Nine wrote back in favour of calling the road Meadowlea Road, nine were in favour of Meadowfield Road, eight wanted New Meadow Road and 16 people recommended Riverside Court.

But seven were opposed to any form of change at all.

And now the district council is bracing itself for the possibility of having to foot court and compensation costs should an appeal against any change in street name be lodged.

Councillors meet on Monday May 23 to decide whether to rename the road and what to call it.

First published: May 20