WHAT'S in a name?

Well, a bit of a kerfuffle and all-round consternation, it seems, after Penryn Town Council was asked to name a block of student flats it had strongly opposed.

The developer of the station road site, Bath Row Developments, asked the councillors for their input.

Its letter said it wanted the council "to suggest a name that resonates positively", but that idea did not sit well with many members at the latest town council meeting, whose first reaction was to laugh.

One said he could suggest some names, but wouldn't want to say them in public.

Councillor Ted Wilkes said: "To be honest, I think they have a cheek to ask us to name it.

"I get stopped by people all the time who think it is our fault they are being built there, but we fought tooth and nail to stop it."

The 231 apartments were approved by Cornwall Council in 2009, despite many objections, including those of the town council and local member Mary May.

She said: "We have had the blame for it, but we have to move on from that situation.

"Perhaps it's childish if we don't give a response, but the way were treated at the time we were made to feel like children. We don't have to come up with a name if we don't want to."

Although some joked they had suggestions which they would not say in the meeting, Councillor Cait Hutchings said it should be called "The Burrows, as in rabbit burrow."

Councillor Keven Green suggested Old Station Yard as a nod to the name by which a lot of people knew the site, but this proposal was lost on a vote by four to six.

The council then voted to inform the developers it was unable to agree on a name.