There are calls for a road name next to a new £30 million school in Gloucestershire to be changed.

The High School Leckhampton, in Cheltenham, currently under construction, is on the junction of Kidnappers' Lane.

A local resident, whose daughter is looking at going to the school next year, says the new school opening could be a catalyst for residents to have a vote on a new name that is more suitable.

Paul McKenna said: "It occurred to me that Kidnappers' Lane is an outdated and unfortunate name for a main access road next to a school. The new school creates the impetus for the lane to possibly re-brand and may also be a win-win for house prices."

The school, currently under construction to meet a shortfall in pupil places at secondary level particularly in the south of Cheltenham, is run and managed by the Balcarras Trust.

It had its first intake of 120 year seven pupils this September, temporarily accommodated at the existing Balcarras school site in Charlton Kings, but in September 2022 construction will be complete at the new purpose-built campus across town at the adjoining Farm Lane.

A total of 240 pupils year eight and year seven pupils will be the first to start in the new buildings in 2022. Most will be making their way to and from school along Kidnappers Lane.

Paul said: "It's quite a dark road in parts and calling it Kidnappers' Lane, when there are secondary school kids walking down there, feels inappropriate."

He is imagining that other parents and residents might feel the same, but no one thought to ask. There is a minimum threshold to change a name, but he's hoping there might be enough traction to lobby the council for a name change in advance of the latest pavement improvements and 2022 opening ceremony.

Renaming or renumbering streets will only be considered by the Council for a few specific reasons.

These are:

• A minimum of two thirds of the occupants of the street submit a request

• In the interests of public or highway safety

• If there is evidence of a serious problem due to similar names or the location of a property in a street.

Residents of a street who wish a name to be changed can petition the Council who will judge the case on its merits.

As to what it should be called the rules say that names should have a local connection, historically, geographically or culturally.

Names of living or deceased people should be avoided and should not have a commercial connection or be duplicated in the same postcode district.

Details about renaming streets can be found at streetnaming@cheltenham.gov.uk.