A decision to name a street in Tiptree after a boy who died of cancer is to be reconsidered after parish councillors said the boy had not lived in the village very long.

Chris Arnold, Colchester Council's transport portfolio holder, had agreed a new road could be called Frederick Drive in memory of Frederick Hartigan, who died aged nine in 2000 after a long battle against cancer.

But it will be discussed at Colchester Council's overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday

Mersea Homes had applied to name the street of five houses after Frederick, who made friends with builders on the estate off Newbridge Road. He attended Messing-cum-Inworth School and died at his home in Kiltie Road, in Tiptree.

Tiptree Parish Council had felt the road should be called St Nicholas Close, after the patron saint of children, which would honour all children, rather than one child.

Anne Burgess (Tiptree and Wivenhoe Independent Group), who called the decision in with Barrie Cook, Don Quinn, Susan Brooks and Richard Davies, said some streets have been named after people who have lived in the village for many years or done work in the community.

She said Frederick had not gone to school in the village or lived there very long.

He had moved to the village from Witham two years before his death.

The parish council had reconsidered the street naming after seven letters sent to councillors saying the memorial would be a tribute for the boy's bravery and courage.

But the parish council's highways committee stuck with its decision to name it St Nicholas Close.

Published Wednesday, January 8, 2003

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