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Family name to be wiped out by the Rose?
A small part of the history of a family company which started out nearly 90 years ago in Kingston will be erased if the council changes the name of the Drapers' car park.
The Liberal Democrat-run executive councillors are expected to re-name it The Rose Car Park at a meeting on Tuesday.
The rebranding exercise will cost £5,000 to replace signs and tickets with the new name.
Tory leader Howard Jones described the decision as "out of order" while his fellow councillor Mary Clark said she would attend the meeting and speak her piece.
"It is absolutely unnecessary. It is another bit of money down the drain," she said.
Draper Tools started out in 1919 when the founder, Bert Draper, sold government surplus and tools from a hand barrow around the Kingston markets.
He bought a warehouse starting B. Draper & Son Limited on the site which is now the car park.
When he died in 1963, his son Norman moved the business, which is now one of the largest British tool suppliers, away from Kingston to Hampshire.
Bert's grandson John is now chairman of the company and sister Margaret is also involved.
Clive Richardson of Drapers' Tools said: "From a point of view of nostalgia and history it is a bit of a shame.
"But at the end of the day we were a company in the area. I suppose it is called progress."
John McCarthy, outgoing chairman of the Friends of Kingston Museum and Heritage said: I would be very disappointed to see yet another link with Kingston's industrial heritage lost.
Kingston historian June Sampson said: "I was appalled. I think it is outrageous because as buildings get swept away names are very important as markers for locations.
"The borough is always on about heritage and yet particularly the Lib Dems care nothing for heritage."
But not everybody agrees. Jennifer Butterworth, chairman of the Kingston Society, said: "It is a very good idea. Drapers' car park means nothing whereas the Rose car park, there's a chance that people know where it is.
"We have to make new heritages as well."
What do you think?
1:46pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Cllr Ian George, Surbiton on 2:43pm Thu 8 May 08
I think that people should also be aware that the Executive agenda shows that it will cost local Council-tax payers approximately £5,000 to change the name.
I think that people should also be aware that the Executive agenda shows that it will cost local Council-tax payers approximately £5,000 to change the name.
Posted by: Paul, Surbiton on 10:38pm Thu 8 May 08
Who really gives a stuff about renaming a carpark of all things?
I've lived here for 10 years and i've never even heard of the name Drapers Carpark. It may be historic but its meaningless.
If you mention The Rose Car Park, most people know straight away where it is.
So the new name, for what its worth, does get my vote.
I'm sick of listening to a whinging bunch of serial council bashers.
Notice how they always manage to slip in 'The Lib Dem Council' rather than just 'The Council' when they're on their whinge.
That exposes them as nothing but a bunch of orchestrated Tories trying to politicise even the most minor and irrelevant issues.
Intelligent people can see through these petty local squabbles and would be more inlcined to think about voting Tory if they quit whinging about everything and started coming up with positive ideas for our borough.
That being said, I'm sure that it shouldn't cost 5k to change it. KBC shouldn't be throwing away old maps or anything, just let the old name die away gradually.
Who really gives a stuff about renaming a carpark of all things?
I've lived here for 10 years and i've never even heard of the name Drapers Carpark. It may be historic but its meaningless.
If you mention The Rose Car Park, most people know straight away where it is.
So the new name, for what its worth, does get my vote.
I'm sick of listening to a whinging bunch of serial council bashers.
Notice how they always manage to slip in 'The Lib Dem Council' rather than just 'The Council' when they're on their whinge.
That exposes them as nothing but a bunch of orchestrated Tories trying to politicise even the most minor and irrelevant issues.
Intelligent people can see through these petty local squabbles and would be more inlcined to think about voting Tory if they quit whinging about everything and started coming up with positive ideas for our borough.
That being said, I'm sure that it shouldn't cost 5k to change it. KBC shouldn't be throwing away old maps or anything, just let the old name die away gradually.
Posted by: Dave Burdett on 12:36am Fri 9 May 08
Paul, they are voting Tory in record numbers as last weeks squashing of the Lib dems in the London elections showed.
What I don't understand is why they need to change the name at all. Why is changing the name going to help? Is it going to attract more visitors to the theatre?
But, the real disgrace is the £5k to change it.
The whole thing is change for change sake. There are a lot more things the council should be doing with £5k. Leave it alone.
Paul, they are voting Tory in record numbers as last weeks squashing of the Lib dems in the London elections showed.
What I don't understand is why they need to change the name at all. Why is changing the name going to help? Is it going to attract more visitors to the theatre?
But, the real disgrace is the £5k to change it.
The whole thing is change for change sake. There are a lot more things the council should be doing with £5k. Leave it alone.
Posted by: sue greenhalgh, surbiton on 6:25pm Fri 16 May 08
The proposed change of name from "Drapers" Car park, to "Rose", is an absolute waste of money. Those who know or use Drapers, will continue to use that name, and to spend £5,000 to change that name, is ridiculous and a total waste.
The proposed change of name from "Drapers" Car park, to "Rose", is an absolute waste of money. Those who know or use Drapers, will continue to use that name, and to spend £5,000 to change that name, is ridiculous and a total waste.
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