FOI Request - Statues, Blue Plaques and Street Names

Request 101003238446 

In accordance with Freedom of Information Legislation, I would be grateful if you could comply with the following request.

1. Please provide me with the total number of
a) statues,
b) blue plaques,
c) street names,
d) public spaces such as squares or parks and
e) public buildings such as libraries and leisure centres, there are in your local authorities.  

2. For each of these, please provide me with how many were erected in memory of or named after
a) a man or male figure from history,
b) a woman or female figure from history,
c) an animal and
d) any other which would not come under the previous three categories.

3. Please specify if there are any specific planning policies which look to ensure there are more female statues, blue plaques or street names which are named after a women, across the local authority

Response 03-03-2023

1. 

a) Information not held. We do not record statues, but monuments and fountains are included on the attached Schedule of Public Access Properties. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

b) Information not held. Exempt under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 

c) 2026 Type 1 street names; this amount also includes names which have been approved but the street has not yet been built

d) This is exempt under Section 25 – Information Otherwise Accessible and available e.g. published on a website.  To access this information please follow this link: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_80506.html

e) Please see a list of Public Access Properties here. None of the libraries, community and leisure centres are named after a historical figure.

2. Street names in general: Since 2017 we retain the background of the street name where possible. We have approved 140 street names since 2017. Any street name approved prior to this date we do not hold accurate records of its background. Some historic research may show they are named after a woman, e.g. Maxwell Street Fochabers appears to be named after Jane Maxwell wife of the Earl of Westmorland. Many of our street names refer to the family surname rather than a male or female figure.

a) Street names since 2017 = 1

b) Street names Since 2017 = 7. In 2022 we approved 7 street names for Elgin in relation to famous females associated to Moray. These street names have also included both their first and last name. Approved names are: Isobel Gowdie Road, Lady Macbeth Drive, Kim Murray Court, Ethel Fenwick Grove, Lavinia Malcolm Lane, Marjory Gilzean Parade and Meg Farquhar Street.

c) Street names since 2017 = 7

d) Street names since 2017:
Castles = 20
Aircraft = 12
Surname = 27
Distillery = 8
Golf = 7
Other = 50 (Examples are locally known areas:- Hills, burns, rivers, farms etc)

3. Our street naming policy does not have any specific policies regarding street names named after women. Our Policy does encourage the use of themes in new developments so that street names are grouped by similar themed names, e.g. aircraft at developments close to RAF bases.