Mayor maps out plans to rename four Tube stations

Ken Livingstone has revealed plans to look at changing the names of at least four Underground stops.

The Mayor confirmed in a written answer that Shepherd's Bush station on the Hammersmith and City line would be changed to Shepherd's Bush Market next year.

A new stop - Wood Lane - is being added to the line, so all the signs would need to be altered anyway.

The Mayor said the two Edgware Road stations could also be renamed to end the confusion between them.

There is local pressure to change the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City line stop to Chapel Street.

London Assembly member Murad Qureshi has said the station's Bakerloo Line stop should be called Church Street Market. There have also been calls for Aldgate East Tube station to be renamed Brick Lane station in a bid to promote tourism and business.

Supporters say some visitors to the Brick Lane area struggle to locate it, meaning the street's famous restaurants could be missing out on millions of pounds in trade.

They say the name change would also celebrate the diversity of the area, which is at the heart of London's Bangladeshi community.

However, Mr Livingstone said: "London Underground has not identified any other stations which would be suitable candidates for a name change.

"This includes Aldgate East because of the cost - it is on two Tube lines which will need signage changes - and because the existing name has a long-standing historical connection with the area.

"Having said that, I am prepared to look at these cases, although there are cost implications of doing so. However, if a case can be made then I will seriously consider changes."

Other Tube stations which campaigners want renamed include Archway, which they suggest should be changed to Dick Whittington.

A major hospital, several pubs, a local park and even buildings in the area are already named after the rags-to-riches Mayor, whose legend began just round the corner from the station.

Locals want Arsenal station on the Piccadilly line to be changed back to Gillespie Road, after the road it is on, now that the football club has moved to the Emirates stadium, which is closer to Highbury and Islington station.

There have also been demands for Kilburn station to be changed to Mapesbury, after Walter Map, an early medieval priest. Other proposals are even less likely to receive the Mayor's backing - changing Baker Street to Sherlock Holmes Tube and the Oval to the Fosters Oval after the beer company - are not thought to be on the cards.

Transport for London has said that the changes would cause confusion and cost thousands as existing Underground maps and literature would have to be altered.