The decision to change the name of Babergh District Council has been temporarily postponed to give councillors more time to consider the proposal.
The local authority was due to meet later this month to discuss a proposal to change the name of Babergh District Council to South Suffolk Council.
However, the meeting will now not take place on the scheduled date of October 22. This means any name change is now unlikely before April 2021.
The proposal was initially made because outsiders struggled to pronounce ‘Babergh’. It was felt that calling the council South Suffolk Council would ‘eliminate confusion’ and ‘ensure the district remains on the map’.
Deputy leader Cllr Clive Arthey said: ‘We recognise that there’s a lot to consider and want to provide more time for all councillors to fully consider the potential benefits, implications and costs before meeting to reach any decision.’
Leader Cllr John Ward commented: ‘We have received valuable feedback both for and against the proposals over recent weeks that will help in our future discussions and we are extremely grateful for the free publicity we have received in the meantime, both nationally and internationally, that has helped people understand exactly where Babergh is located, and how to pronounce it!’
