Key Points
- Andrew Avenue in Renfrew will retain its current name after Renfrewshire Council decided to take no further action following a resident consultation
- Among 22 households that responded (42% turnout of all 52 households), 73% opposed renaming the street
- Only 18% of respondents supported renaming Andrew Avenue, while 9% reported mixed opinions within their households
- The consultation ran from 10th to 31st March 2026 using a restricted online voting system limited to Andrew Avenue residents
- Residents opposing change raised concerns about practical impacts on addresses and official documents
- Councillors agreed at Thursday’s meeting to note the consultation outcome and end the renaming process
- The renaming proposal stemmed from a motion by Councillors Shaw and Hughes titled “Renaming Andrew Avenue”
- The avenue is named after Andrew Windsor, whose reputation has sparked debate across Renfrewshire
Renfrew (Glasgow Express) May 16, 2026 -Andrew Avenue in Renfrew will keep its current name after councillors agreed to take no further action following a resident consultation that revealed overwhelming opposition to renaming the street. As reported by the staff writer of Renfrewshire 24,
- Key Points
- How Many Residents Responded to the Consultation and What Were the Results?
- Why Did Residents Oppose the Renaming Proposal?
- What Led to the Renaming Motion Initially Being Proposed?
- What Happened at Thursday’s Council Meeting?
- What Does This Mean for Renfrewshire’s Approach to Street Name Debates?
- How Was the Consultation Conducted and What Were Its Parameters?
- Background of the Development
- What Impact Will This Decision Have on Andrew Avenue Residents?
“The issue was discussed at Thursday’s meeting of Renfrewshire Council after a report revealed most residents who responded to a council consultation opposed changing the street’s name”.
The council’s decision effectively ends the renaming process that had been under consideration for several months.
How Many Residents Responded to the Consultation and What Were the Results?
According to the council report cited by Renfrewshire 24,
“all 52 households on Andrew Avenue were invited to take part in the consultation, which ran between 10th and 31st March using a restricted online voting system limited to residents living on the street”.
Twenty-two households responded, representing a turnout of 42 per cent of all eligible households.
The voting results were clear among those who participated:
- 73 per cent opposed changing the name
- 18 per cent supported a rename
- Nine per cent reported mixed opinions within the household
As noted by The Herald Scotland in their coverage,
“Andrew Avenue in Renfrew will keep its name after most residents, who responded to a consultation”.
Why Did Residents Oppose the Renaming Proposal?
Many residents who opposed the proposal raised concerns over the practical impact of changing addresses and official documents, according to the council report.
The practical implications of renaming a street affect numerous aspects of daily life, including postal services, utility accounts, banking records, and government documentation.
As reported by STV News,
“Andrew Avenue in Renfrew will keep its name after residents opposed any proposed change”.
The residents’ preference appears to prioritize continuity and avoidance of administrative burden over the symbolic concerns that prompted the renaming motion.
What Led to the Renaming Motion Initially Being Proposed?
The renaming proposal originated from a motion submitted by Councillors Shaw and Hughes, which put Andrew Avenue in Renfrew at the centre of a broader debate about street names in the area. As reported by Paisley Photographs,
“A motion submitted by Councillors Shaw and Hughes has put Andrew Avenue in Renfrew at the centre of the debate. The motion, titled ‘Renaming Andrew Avenue'”.
The avenue is named after Andrew Windsor, and Paisley Photographs reported on December 3, 2025, that the “Impact of Andrew Windsor’s Reputation on Renfrewshire Street Names” had become a subject of public discussion. If the motion had been approved, officers would begin a consultation with residents of Andrew Avenue on whether they wish the street to be renamed, as outlined in the original council procedures.
What Happened at Thursday’s Council Meeting?
Following discussion at Thursday’s meeting, councillors agreed to note the consultation outcome and take no further action, meaning Andrew Avenue will retain its current name, according to Renfrewshire 24. The decision represents the conclusion of a process that began when councillors initially considered whether the street should be renamed due to concerns about Andrew Windsor’s reputation.
Yahoo UK News reported that
“Renfrewshire councillors have agreed to bring an end to the process after a majority of households told an engagement exercise they would not be in favour of changing the street’s name”.
What Does This Mean for Renfrewshire’s Approach to Street Name Debates?
The outcome of the Andrew Avenue consultation demonstrates that Renfrewshire Council will respect residents’ wishes when it comes to changes affecting their immediate community. The 42 per cent turnout suggests significant engagement from the community, with the vast majority of participating residents favouring maintaining the status quo.
As reported by the Renfrewshire Gazette on their social media,
“Renfrew residents oppose renaming street called after Andrew”.
The council’s decision to take no further action indicates that similar proposals in the future would likely require stronger resident support to proceed.
How Was the Consultation Conducted and What Were Its Parameters?
The consultation methodology was specifically designed to ensure only affected residents could vote. The restricted online voting system was limited exclusively to residents living on Andrew Avenue, ensuring that the results reflected the views of those most directly impacted by any name change.
The three-week consultation period from 10th to 31st March provided residents with adequate time to consider the proposal and cast their votes. The online system allowed for efficient collection of responses while maintaining the restriction to eligible voters only.
Background of the Development
The controversy surrounding Andrew Avenue in Renfrew stems from concerns about the reputation of Andrew Windsor, for whom the street was named.
The motion submitted by Councillors Shaw and Hughes, titled “Renaming Andrew Avenue,” initiated the formal process that led to the resident consultation.
Paisley Photographs reported in December 2025 that the
“Impact of Andrew Windsor’s Reputation on Renfrewshire Street Names”
had become a subject of wider debate in the community. This suggests that Andrew Windsor’s reputation had sparked broader discussions about historical names and their appropriateness in contemporary Renfrewshire.
The council followed proper consultation procedures by inviting all 52 households on Andrew Avenue to participate, ensuring comprehensive engagement before making any decision about the street’s name. The consultation process itself was designed to be inclusive while remaining targeted to those directly affected by the proposed change.
What Impact Will This Decision Have on Andrew Avenue Residents?
This development means Andrew Avenue residents will avoid the administrative burden and costs associated with changing their street address.
They will not need to update official documents, inform utility companies, change postal addresses, or notify banks and other institutions of an address change.
The decision provides certainty and continuity for the 22 households that participated in the consultation, as well as the remaining 30 households that did not respond. Residents can continue using their current addresses without disruption to services or documentation.
For the 73% who opposed renaming, the outcome validates their-position and their concerns about practical impacts. They will not face the inconvenience of updating addresses across multiple systems and records.
