A PROPOSAL to name streets in a new housing estate at the old Greenock Academy site in honour of the school’s teachers is set to be rejected as it might ‘prove divisive’.
Councillors are due to decide what the roads are to be called at the CCG Homes development of 30 three-bedroom houses on Madeira Street .
The developer, ward councillors, and Greenock West and Cardwell Bay Community Council, were consulted by council officials over several suggestions.
These were naming the streets after notable former senior teachers in the school; after the ‘house’ names used in the school (which were themed on famous sea battles); or using simply ‘Madeira Court’ and ‘Madeira Place’ to link in with the street they will run off.
A report to councillors states: “Following consultation with ward councillors, it became apparent that using the names of former teachers (all deceased) may potentially prove divisive locally.
“On that basis, opting for either of the latter two of the above options would appear to be prudent.
“Taking the above into consideration, it is proposed that the new roads in this development are assigned the names ‘Norvik Place’ and ‘Atlantic Court’, after two of the school ‘houses’.”
The 50-year-old Greenock Academy building was demolished in 2015. It closed in 2011 when the school merged with Gourock High to form Clydeview Academy in Gourock.
The building gained a second career and became familiar to millions of TV viewers UK-wide when BBC school drama series Waterloo Road used it as a set and production base but filming finished in August 2014.
In Pictures: A Look Back At Waterloo Road Being Filmed At The Former Greenock Academy
In Pictures: A Look Back At Waterloo Road Filming On Location In Inverclyde
Former pupils marked the building’s half century with an event in September 2014.
The upper part of the Greenock Academy site was developed as a pre-five centre in 2018.
