CALLS to rename the London Road area Broad Green Village have met with a mixed response.
Reporter Chris Peilow pitched the idea to shoppers in West Croydon this week and while some thought it had merit, others dismissed the notion as "silly".
Most agreed that rebranding the area would only work if it was combined with major investment.
"It's not the best place in the world to live so if they really want to change it then they should definitely do it," said Adam Reed, 36, a personal trainer from Boston Road, Thornton Heath.
"The name 'village' could attract more people to the area, helping improve problems of crime, but if they come and see it's nothing like a village then there's no point and it won't work.
"I didn't move here because of the name and I wouldn't have wanted to move here if it had a nice name either."
Tracey Gladwin, 40, a teaching assistant who lives in Earlswood Avenue, Thornton Heath, said: "Changing the name would be nice if they could do it and then turn it into a sought after area, but I think the time for it was ten or 20 years ago, not anymore.
"There are many problems in the area - three out of four of my children have been mugged on my doorstep.
"The word 'village' sounds nice but it won't make any difference."
Tracy Tyrell, 48,a learning support assistant from Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead, said: "It sounds like a nice idea but at the end of the day you need the outskirts to change their ways as well.
"Problems like gangs, street crime, muggings will need to improve and the area needs to be cleaned. Otherwise it will be a big white elephant to have to go around."
Ms Tyrell added: "Anything's a nice idea if it's going to improve the area. I'm originally from Northfolk so village sounds really nice to me.
"I like the idea and many people around here would as well if they knew it would make things a bit better."
Housing manager George Smith, 48, remains unconvinced.
"There's nothing to characterise Broad Green as a village," he told the Advertiser.
"There's a library there at the moment and nothing else. You'd need a green belt or something around it for that.
"I can't see a reason for it. It's silly and a waste of money if they do it. You can't just put a tape around it and call it a village."
