Staines residents to be consulted over 'Staines-on-Thames' name change

Residents in the Surrey town of Staines are to be consulted on whether it should be given a new name.

Spelthorne Borough Council intends to ask locals whether the town should be renamed 'Staines-upon-Thames' to promote a more positive image.

The consultation will launch this Saturday (October 1) and runs until October 31.

Local councillors will then vote on the proposed name change at a meeting on December 15.

Councillor Colin David said: "Staines has been undersold for a very long time and that needs to change.

"I believe the name 'Staines-upon-Thames' more accurately reflects our riverside location and will improve people's perceptions of the town."

The idea was first proposed by business leaders in November 2010 and attracted criticism from impressionist Bobby Davro, who labelled the idea as "pompous and snobby".

Indie rock four-piece Hard-Fi hail from Staines, which has a population of 45,000 and is home to companies like British Gas and the UK research and development division of Samsung.

Staines is also the hometown of fictional rapper Ali G, played by Sacha Baron Cohen.

Watch a clip of Pulp's Jarvis Cocker performing with Ali G below (Video contains strong language):