Evocative and Inspiring

The Government may not give much of a toss about housing, except when the Daily Mail bellows forth that accommodation is not being kept expensive enough; but it hates to think of anybody having a dull and uninspiring address. A think tank (or possibly, in this case, a think jeep) has suggested that street names should constitute "miniature history lessons to inspire the young", and that roads should therefore be named after Olympic sportsbeings, David Beckham or J K Rowling. Such evocation of our most inspiring and profit-making citizens would "give a place or an area interest and focus, which just doesn't happen with the likes of Sycamore Grove or Fairfield View"; self-evidently, the interest and focus of an area consists entirely in what it is called, rather than in whatever deserted office block or derelict shopping mall may happen to grace and beautify it. Someone at the Department of Encroachment by Fat Ruthless Anonymities burbled that "it can only be good for local democracy and pride if people can name public spaces after those who are important to them"; much better than if they were permitted to participate in decisions about their own hospitals, post offices, transport systems, schools or pensions.