Naming Granny Drippen Steps

Some readers will have followed the saga of naming three footpaths in West Hampstead over the last year, resulting in the Billy Fury Way signs being stolen by souvenir hunters on three occasions.

Well the latest version of the sign is so high up the wall only the most intrepid will try to remove that one - but that is NOT a challenge!

The new challenge for me is to find a way of officially naming the footpath and bridge which connects Blackburn Road and Broadhurst Gardens. Several times since being elected in 2002 I have had the graffiti painted over and the lighting restored. Network Rail own the bridge although in more recent times they have disputed this. Transport for London shake their heads too, so Camden Council officers have found ways of getting clear ups done because the railway authorities are clearly reluctant to take responsibility. The latest clean up took place last weekend.

I have known for some time that the bridge itself has been called "Granny Drippen Steps" by long-standing locals. My Liberal Democrat colleague Flick Rea has confirmed that the name "Granny Drippen" refers to the flower-seller who had a stall at one end of the bridge selling her produce to commuters. If readers of this blog can tell me in which decade Granny Drippen was operating and at which end of the bridge the stall was located that will help me build up the case for getting the bridge officially named.

My further challenge is to comply with the overly bureaucratic process that I need to follow to get the name secured. I am informed that the option of THREE names has to put forward to the Fire Brigade in the first instance to see if there are any objections from them. (I know this might see strange but they have a veto..) Once that hurdle is complete we then have to consult people locally. One suggestion I know will be vetoed would be Billy Fury Steps, because we cannot have two paths with similar names, and in these straightened times we cannot afford to waste money on more souvenirs prised off walls...

So if anyone has a suggestion for an alternative to the obvious first choice please let me know.