Vineyard peeved as road gets prison name

A Marlborough road has been named Prison Plantation Rd, sparking a furious response from a local vineyard which describes the name as "an abomination".

The 600m road provides access to The Crossings vineyard from Awatere Valley Rd in rural Marlborough.

Marlborough District Council confirmed the new name yesterday after a request from local residents Helen and Ron Harris.

But The Crossings' owner, wine company Ager Sectus Company Ltd, dispatched a lawyer's letter to the council, saying it was "appalled" by the name.

"Ager Sectus is astonished that this could have happened. This name for a road is an abomination."

Lawyer Peter Radich said in his letter the name would damage the company's brand and marketing, and was "insensitive, unfair and commercially damaging".

But yesterday councillor Gerald Hope said the name Prison Plantation Rd recalled a slice of local history.

In 1902 a forest in the area was planted by prisoners.

"I stand by the name. I think it is a wise and historically accurate decision," he said.

- nzpa