Lara Lane, Croft Crescent, erm, Tomb Terrace...? All are eminently possible if Derby Council gets its way...

It’s all part of a public appeal to name a pair of new routes connecting the bustling city thoroughfares of Osmaston and Burton Roads, and thence through to Stafford Street. Dozens of suggestions have been tabled, with a couple of significant front-runners already emerging.

Also-rans first, though, and Derby’s historical heroes have provided plenty of inspiration. Noted artist Joseph Wright and famed astrologer John Flamsteed have been mentioned, as have big employers such as Rolls Royce and Royal Crown Derby, they of fancy pottery fame. The city’s RSPCA dog shelter and something honouring the veterans of the Iraq and Afghan conflicts have been also popular suggestions. All have local, if not international significance, we don’t doubt, but none quite says “Derby” quite as well as locally-invented silicon siren Lara Croft, as director of Marketing Derby John Forkin explains:

“We have waited a long time for this road and we need to give it a name, and the right name,” he begins. “Personally I would be in favour of something that projects something new and modern about the city so I quite like the Lara Croft Idea.”

And there it is – ‘Lara Croft Way’ is currently one of the top choices too, alongside a commemoration of famed Crimean War heroine and all round lady-of-the-lamp Florence Nightingale. With two roads to name there’s room for the pair of ‘em, we reckon (smutty pun entirely intended). Anyway, the suggestion box is open until August 28th. See thisisderbyshire.co.uk for more details.