New name for Cromwell St?

RESIDENTS of Cromwell Street, Gloucester, are to be asked if they want the road's name changed, to try and lessen its association with mass-killer Rosemary West, who was convicted of 10 murders last week.

Tomorrow discussions between the council and the Official Solicitor, who is responsible for the West estate, will start in earnest about what is to become of number 25, where together with her late husband Fred, Mrs West slaughtered and buried most of the victims, including their daughter Heather.

But before a final decision is made about the future of 25 Cromwell Street, the residents and the families of the victims will be consulted. Council spokesman Mike McCabe said the discussions would extend to the street name if that was raised - as it is certain to be. "If there is an overwhelming feeling from people who live there to change the name, we will take that very seriously," he said. "Anyone who lives in Cromwell Street and the area around it will be listened to. But we will probably give it a few weeks to allow everything to settle down before we start consulting."

Like number 25, many other houses in Cromwell Street consist of bedsits and flats which are home to an ever-changing population, and landlords will be among those consulted. Many householders' properties have slumped in value since details of the killings came to light.

For18 months police and journalists have been a familiar sight outside the now boarded-up property. But there have been ghoulish sight-seers too, visitors whose trips to the historic city were incomplete without a look at number 25. Calls asking for directions have even been made to the tourist office.

Number 25 is almost certain to be knocked down. A garden of remembrance has been one suggestion for the site, a community centre another. Veteran local newspaper columnist Hugh Worship suggested building a hostel to house young people - the group whose vulnerability Fred and Rose preyed upon.

The views of residents were split. Kate Windo, 30, whose flat backs onto the street, said: "It seems to me people should remember what happened. If you knock down the house and change the name it could all be forgotten - and in some ways it shouldn't be." But Ernest Miles, 79, who has lived on Cromwell Street for 49 years, said: "It's a great idea. This street is world-infamous now. You only need to mention the word and it sets people off.

"There's no point even going to an estate agent - they just don't want to know. I know someone who asked for a valuation and it was half what it used to be. We've got Arthur Street and Wellington Street round here. There must be some other famous figure whose name they haven't used yet."

l Another notorious address, 10 Rillington Place, underwent a name change after the execution in 1953 of John Christie, who confessed to killing four women there, including his wife. The Notting Hill, west London, street became Ruston Mews before being redeveloped and called Wesley Square.

Inside Story, pages 17 & 18

Leading article, page 20