A KEEN royalist who hoped to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by naming a street after her has been refused by her local council, because it felt the name was “too specific”.

Winifred Day paid �650 to Soham Town Council in September to have a 10-house development she has built in the town named Diamond Jubilee Close, a tribute to the monarch’s 60 years on the throne.

Next year also happens to coincide with Mrs Day’s own diamond wedding anniversary and she felt the name would be perfect for the development, which is being built just off Hall Street.

Her plans have been scuppered by the council however, who sent her a letter last week refusing her request.

In a letter to Mrs Day, council clerk David Giles, said: “While the committee understands the reasoning behind the suggested name of Diamond Jubilee Close, it felt that this was rather long and too specific for the development.”

The council suggested that road should be named Jubilee Close, instead.

According to East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy, developers may choose any name as long as it does not breach a set of regulations.

The regulations say that the name must not cause offence, should not be difficult to pronounce or spell, should not promote an active organisation and should not be aesthetically unsuitable.

There is a Diamond Jubilee Road already in existence in Rufford, Lancashire and, in Doncaster, Yorkshire, there is a Silver Jubilee Close.

Speaking to the Ely Standard, Mrs Day said: “I just think it is so sad and I’m quite upset about it. My husband and I are both royalists and we felt that it would be the ideal way to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee by having the street named after it.

“We are not being unreasonable and it’s not an offensive name so I can’t understand why they won’t allow it. Everyone we have spoken to has said it is such a lovely name.”

Mrs Day held a street party when the royal wedding was held earlier this year and is also planning to hold another street party when the Diamond Jubilee is celebrated next year.

“I think we have had it good in this country for the last 60 years that the Queen has reigned and I just wanted to do something to celebrate that,” she said.

Mrs Day added that between Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Soham Town Council, she has paid out about �80,000 in developer fees.

Mrs Day’s last hope is that East Cambridegsjire District Council, which has the final say on street naming applications, will go against the advice of the town council and approve the application.

Soham street names

Diamond Jubilee Close has 19 letters and is considered “rather long” by the council. Also in Soham:

Herbert Human Close (17 letters)

Julius Martin Lane (16 letters)

Long Dolver Drove (15 letters)

Common Gate Drove (15 letters)

Cyprian Rust Way (14 letters)