Massive vote in favour of Staines-upon-Thames name

Staines has moved one step closer to changing its name after being mocked for years as the home town of Ali G.

Business leaders have been campaigning to rename the Surrey town "Staines-upon-Thames" to improve its image. It became a running joke after comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's wanabe rapper character boasted of being part of the "Staines Massive".

Spelthorne District Council will vote on the change next month after a poll found residents were 2-1 in favour.

Alex Tribeck, chairman of Spelthorne Business Forum, which initiated the move, said: "There's no doubt Ali G put Staines on the map - but for all the wrong reasons. He put the stain in Staines. The town was derided. Despite its situation along both banks of a beautiful stretch of the river, property prices are well below average.

"And not enough new businesses are coming to an area which is close to Europe's biggest airport and the main road and rail network." Spelthorne councillor Colin Davies said the vote would go to the full council meeting for ratification next month but that should be "a formality" before an official name change on May 20.

"It has provoked some heated discussion. Although only 662 people voted, this was by far the biggest response to any public consultation," he said.

"The final figures were 428 for and 234 against. I believe it will herald a new era for the town which has suffered from a woeful image."

Changing a town's name is rare but reasonably straightforward. The cost of changes to signs will be met by local firms and sponsorship.