Residents in a small Scottish town are advocating for the retention of a street named after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, despite other areas across the country choosing to rename streets associated with the Epstein scandal. Renfrew locals, located six miles west of Glasgow, argue that changing the name of Andrew Avenue, established in the late 1960s, would not be beneficial. This street is part of a group of roads named after the late Queen Elizabeth’s children, including Charles Avenue, Anne Avenue, and Edward Avenue.
A consultation was initiated by the local council last year following concerns raised by residents about the street’s connection to the former Duke of York, who had recently been stripped of his titles and had to relinquish his lease on the Royal Lodge in Windsor. Despite the negative connotations linked to the ex-prince, Renfrew residents, as per the BBC, expressed little concern over the street’s name.
Yvonne Laidlaw, a long-term resident, stated that the association with Prince Andrew did not bother her, emphasizing the longstanding identity of Andrew Avenue in the community. The primary worry among residents is the potential financial burden and inconvenience of changing the street’s name, as highlighted by local Karena Quaile. Another resident, Norman Gerrie, echoed the sentiment of preferring to maintain the current name to avoid unnecessary complications.
Councillor John Shaw, who facilitated the consultation, acknowledged the varied opinions within the community regarding the street’s name. While some residents find the association with the former prince unacceptable, others are content with the existing name. Of the 52 households surveyed, 22 participated in the consultation, with the majority opposing a formal proposal to rename the street.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, now residing at Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate, has been leading a low-profile life. In a recent development, he was briefly detained in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, related to allegations of sharing confidential information with Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy. Thames Valley Police confirmed an ongoing investigation into the matter.