And finally… For whom the bell tolls

Residents of a street called “Bell End” have launched a petition to change the name because of its impact on house prices.

But thousands of people have backed a rival petition seeking to protect the name, claiming that it has historical and sentimental value.

The original petition said the street name has led to local children being bullied at school as well as mockery on social media, which may have hurt house prices.

Residents believe the prices have dropped by around £60,000 because the street had become a “laughing stock”.



A rival petition aims to protect the “historic” street name, which has mediaeval origins. It also says that many locals fondly remember family working at the Bell End Colliery, which closed in the 1930s.

Sandwell Council will now consider the rival petitions.


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