Gay couple take action against new road named 'Bangays Way'

An MP has backed the complaint of a Kent gay couple who say that a new road in their local village has been given a ‘homophobic’ name, in a row which looks set to embroil the local community.

Bangays Way is a new cul-de-sac in the village of Borough Green, near Sevenoaks, Kent, and has been named after a well-known parish councillor, Frank Bangay, who passed away in 1999.

The village of Borough Green in Sevenoaks, Kent

A local married gay couple have taken offense at the sign, however, saying the added ‘s’ was an unnecessary addition to the name that has changed its meaning.

“My husband and I went to look round the new development. Having got over the initial humour, we reflected that this street name was actually pretty offensive,” one of them told The Telegraph.

“Somehow seeing it on the sign made it look even worse. We are pretty sure the sign will be subject to frequent vandalism and possible theft.

“Apparently Frank Bangay was a local historian. Many local roads are named after local families. But only in one instance did an ‘s’ get tacked on the end.

“I have contacted our new MP Tom Tugendhat who seems to agree with me and is approaching the council to see if it can be changed to Frank Bangay Way, which at least makes it clear it is a name not a statement of opinion.”

He added that he initially complained to the chairman of the village’s parish council, but after having his claim dismissed decided to write to local Tory MP Tom Tugendhat following his election last week.

The MP for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling has backed the complaint and said he saw no reason why it could not be changed to Frank Bangay Way.

“His complaint is not without merit, so I am perfectly happy to support him,” Mr Tugendhat said.

However, Mr Bangay’s daughter, Marian Smith, says she is insulted by the complaint and is extremely proud of her family’s name.

“We are all very proud of our surname and both of my parents were very prominent in the village for many, many years and did so much for the village,” she said.

“Our surname has been researched back to the 16th Century by a relative. I too feel that if the couple who are so afraid of what people think that they make an issue could well find themselves in litigation,” she continued.

Parish council chairman Mike Taylor, who rejected the initial complaint, added that the road name was paying tribute to the entire family’s work in the village, as well as Mr Bangay’s.

We’ll be keeping you updated on developments in this ongoing saga as they unfold.

Gay couple take action against new road named ‘Bangays Way’

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