ALTON Town Council has agreed to rename a stretch of Whitedown Lane in honour of its twin town of Pertuis, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France.

Alton Town Twinning Association will mark the 10th anniversary of the union of the two towns in September this year and, with a roundabout in Pertuis named after Alton, is keen to reciprocate.

While some councillors were more inclined to name a roundabout – possibly the proposed new roundabout at The Butts – after Pertuis, time pressure was such that they eventually agreed, by seven votes to four, to rename the stretch of Whitedown Lane running from the beginning of the built-up settlement down to the A339 Basingstoke Road as Pertuis Avenue.

The cost would be approximately £1,000, to include revised signage, and the twinning association has agreed to contribute £450 toward the cost.