Thought for a Friday: Chelmund's Cross

I HAVE to admit that I feel a flutter of excitement when I go past the signs that have sprung up in the last few months around the Chelmund’s Cross construction site.

Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a regular reaction to any old road sign – I don’t go giddy at the sight of a give way or have palpitations when I enter a 20mph zone.

It’s the name on the sign that gives me cause to smile. Chelmund’s Cross, there to see in black and white (or at least black and yellow).

It’s been over a year now since the rumpus over what to rename the Craig Croft shopping precinct, which was about to undergo a multi-million pound redevelopment.

While the new name would be subject to a public vote, the public were less than pleased when the options were announced. There were three to choose from - Craig Park, Dunster Road and, perhaps most puzzlingly, Craig Croft…

What really rankled, however, was that the name that many residents were keen on, Chelmund’s Cross, had been left off the shortlist.

It seems some had concerns about the idea of taking inspiration from Ceolmund – the Anglo Saxon landowner from whose name Chelmsley is likely derived.

This might have been because a one-eyed warrior - as he was depicted by one local artist - was rather more alarming than plain old Craig (whoever he was).

Others thought that the rather flimsy etymological evidence had been stretched beyond credibility. In a few short months, Chelmund had gone from a name from distant history to a full-blooded folk hero.

HERITAGE: Chelmsley is a name derived from the
Anglo Saxon Ceolmund

Now it may be true that there wasn’t a lot of hard evidence. All the same, lots of local people liked the idea. After another round of negotiations, it was agreed that Chelmund’s Cross would be added to the names to be put to the public vote.

To the chagrin of those who had championed the more conventional choices, Chelmund roundly defeated Craig. It was his name that would be immortalised on the diversion signs and spread across council agendas. If Chelmund was cross, the residents were delighted.

A year on from “The Battle of the Croft”, it’s good to see the first phase of development is almost complete. Some will argue that it’s the work itself – the major investment in a run-down parade of shops - that is the most important thing and the name itself isn’t all that important.

I would beg to differ. A bit of history is no bad thing, especially in an area like Chelmsley Wood where so much has changed in the space of half a century. When council estates were built in days gone by, roads were often named after arbitrary themes – like castles or cars or birds. None had any real link to the local area, which is a shame.

More importantly, however, is that the community were involved. If the regeneration is to succeed, then people have to feel that they have a stake in it. The c-word that could cause sleepless nights for those who have to deliver the project isn’t Chelmund or Craig, but consultation.

If residents aren’t given their say – and there was a danger they would be denied the opportunity last spring – then it will only foster a sense of distrust. To their credit, Solihull Council stepped in and made sure that Chelmund was given a chance. If they hadn’t, the Anglo Saxon wouldn’t have been the only one with an axe to grind.