The new Asda Money survey, conducted for its car‑insurance arm, ranked the country’s 35 most humour‑laden place names, placing Worcestershire’s Minge Lane at sixth with 32 % of respondents naming it as one of the rudest. In response, Asda installed temporary velvet curtains over the signs of the top‑ranked locations, including Minge Lane, to keep drivers’ eyes on the road.
Jeremy Owenson, mayor of Upton upon Severn and deputy leader of Malvern Hills District Council, told the Press Association that locals embrace the notoriety. “We’re very proud of the name… there’s an informal festival with loads of bands and a bit of fancy dress,” he said, describing an annual summer event that celebrates the lane’s cheeky moniker.
The mayor added that the street’s signage has repeatedly been stolen by amused visitors, prompting the council to bolt the signs into concrete. “We regularly have the street name stolen. The new curtains are a practical step, but the lane remains a popular photo‑op for tourists,” Owenson explained.
The survey also revealed that 65 % of drivers admit being put off by funny place names, with 60 % missing a turn or exit because they were laughing, and 33 % reporting a near‑miss. Asda’s modesty curtains are intended as a temporary safety measure while the signs remain in place.
Other locations on the list – such as Sluts Hole Lane in Norfolk, Butthole Lane in Leicestershire and Bell End in Rowley Regis – have sparked similar debates about heritage versus modern sensibilities. A 2018 petition to rename Bell End attracted 100 signatures, but a counter‑campaign defending the historic name gathered over 4,800 supporters, leaving the name unchanged.
Despite the controversy, many residents, like Peter Grainger of Butthole Lane, argue the names are part of local history. Grainger traced his road’s name back to a 1066 royal decree about archery practice, insisting, “I would be against changing it. It’s history we shouldn’t lose.”