A ROAD in a new development in Dursley has had to be renamed after it was found the original was named after a book that talks about necrophilia.

The name was flagged as inappropriate by a member of the public. 

They told Dursley Town council on May 3 they believed it was not the right choice of street name in the latest phase of the Littlecombe development, Smallcreep Rise.

The road had been named after a book named Smallcreep's Day - a novel that was written in 1965 by author Peter Currel Brown when he worked at R A Lister Company in Dursley - which was previously sited at the development.

A member of the public, noticed when reviewing the book's content, that a small section talks about necrophilia, the act of having sex with a dead body.

In a chapter from the book is written: “Near the end of his journey, Smallcreep runs into a managing director who offers a wholesale indictment of mankind”.

"We should eventually become necrophiles together, and walk hand in hand through charnel houses and execution chambers, or write marriage vows on parchment made of human skins, or copulate in burial pits by the light of pyres.”

 A spokesperson for Dursley Town Council said it and Stroud District Council were happy to reconsider the name.

Both Smallcreep and Foundry were suggestions provided by Dursley Town Council in 2020, with both names having links to Littlecombe.

The spokesperson confirmed they were made aware of the issue by potential residents of the new properties at the St Modwen Homes' Littlecombe development in Dursley.

Properties went on sale in March and the housebuilder is delivering three and four-bed homes.

The development has schemes available to help potential homeowners. Those buying for the first time can benefit from the first time buyer boost and the part exchange max scheme is available for those who are looking to sell.