closeicon
News

Cornish Jews call for village boycott over park called ‘Hitlers Walk’

articlemain

Jews in Cornwall are calling for a boycott of a fishing village over the erection of a sign naming a local park “Hitlers Walk”.

Harvey Kurzfield, chairperson of the Cornish Jewish community, was reported as calling the decision “outrageous and completely unfeeling”.

The park in Mevagissey was originally given the unusual title in the 1930s in reference to a despotic local councillor, but its sign was removed in 2005 following objections.

However, authorities have now reinstated it, claiming the name is not offensive.

Mr Kurzfield, a teacher, said: “It is unbelievable to stoop to doing something like that. I would urge Jewish people to boycott the village.”

But parish councillor John Daniel, one of the driving forces behind the move, said that the sign’s 10-year absence was “political correctness gone mad”.

He added: “I am 80 and I have always known it as Hitlers Walk. All the local people have known it as Hitlers Walk and they wanted the sign back.

“It's not offensive, it's just what local people call it.”

A fellow parish councillor, Jade Barron, said the village’s 4,000 residents considered the name part of their heritage.

She said: “We didn't want to offend anyone, it's just always been known as Hitlers Walk.

“It's a massive part of the village's history and it would be a shame to take that away.”

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive