Local Government Minister, John Healey MP has endorsed the idea and encourages councils to adopt the approach.

Mr Healey said:

”I think it’s great for local democracy and local pride if people can name their public spaces after the people who are important to them. They may choose national icons. But they may also choose their community’s unsung heroes; those who serve others and win the respect and admiration of the people around them.”

“Over the past year, I’ve dealt with the aftermath of last summer’s floods. I’ve seen many ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help their neighbours and get their communities back on their feet. These are just the sort of unsung heroes that local people could honour in this way.”

Well, I suspect that Street Naming and Numbering Officers across the country may treat the proposal with a little more caution, and here are five entirely random reasons why streets are not named after living persons.

Gary Glitter, Kate Moss, Dwain Chambers, Kerry Katona, Michael Barrymore.

NLGN article.