Mayor approves move to give Milton Keynes a new NAME in major rebrand

Already the new name has been approved by the Mayor of MK, Cllr Andrew Geary, who has heralded it as a "high voltage idea" that could empower the borough.

The lobby for the rebrand and name change was started by the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, who are about to launch a new all-electric community trip boat called Electra.

A spokesman said: “MK has long been at the forefront of new electric technology, with driverless cars, Starship delivery robots, car charging points and battery-operated scooters. There has never been a better time for a name-change, given the imminent launch of our all-electric community trip boat.”

She added: “It’s time we gave our great city a plug. The new name for MK could be introduced in a single-phase and would give a great surge of power to the city”.

Mayor Andrew Geary said, “At first we were shocked to receive this cable from the ElectraCity campaigners. I thought ‘there is always some bright spark wanting to change, just for the sake of it’."

But he added: "This name could transform the way visitors see our lovely city. Electra-fication would add a certain something to our grid road system. It would help give the boat a jump start and, if there is enough support, it’s a high voltage idea that would be hard to re-fuse.”

Local resident, Ivor Goodeye-Dear, said: "At first, I thought 'watt' on earth are they playing at, and that I should stay neutral. Then, because Milton Keynes is at the heart of a national grid of canals and rivers, I saw the positive side.”

Based at Campbell Wharf, on the Grand Union Canal, the community boat, Electra, is due to start hosting guests later this year to help promote the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park.

Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust spokesman April Fuel described it as an exciting project which aims to link the River Great Ouse with the Grand Union Canal.

You can learn more at www.bmkwaterway.org