City leaders want to name new street after deceased much-loved former Milton Keynes councillor

Kevin Wilson, the first leader of Milton Keynes Council back in 1997, died just after the red party held on to power at the local elections last May.

Now Cllr Nigel Long (Lab, Bletchley West), the council’s elected housing chief, wants part of a new Cripps Lodge and Peace Site development in Netherfield to be named after Cllr Wilson.

“I hope it will be called Kevin Wilson court,” said Cllr Long this week as he confirmed a decision to go ahead with the development.

But, hinting that there may be opposition to the move, he told the delegated decisions meeting on Tuesday, that: “Any rearguard action to stop it will be fought by the administration.

“Kevin Wilson has to be in there somewhere,” he added.

Cllr Wilson lived in Netherfield while he was teacher at the former Frank Markham School.

His list of former pupils includes the council’s Conservative leader, Cllr Alex Walker (Stantonbury).Cllr Long was supported by Cllr Emily Darlington (Lab, Bletchley East), the council’s elected head of public realm, said she thought it would be a “very nice tribute” to Cllr Wilson.

The Cripps Lodge/Peace Site has been valued at £1.7 million and comes in at 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres).

The council has drawn up plans to build about 60 new homes there as part of its target of building 500 new council properties by 2022.

Cripps Lodge used to house the council’s adult social care service but they left the site on April 1, last year. The council intends to clear the site as soon as possible.

Cllr Long’s decision is due to be published on the council’s website tomorrow (Friday) when it will be subject to the council’s “call-in” procedure. If it is not called in for scrutiny it will be automatically confirmed.