Southampton residents are hoping they can force a change in the name of the Death Valley Field and Playground.

At a Parish Council meeting on Wednesday night, locals said the name was not suitable for a playground and claimed they had a petition with several hundred names in favour of a change to a more child-friendly title.

The name dates back to the 1940s and 1950s when many motorists lost their lives on the stretch of road.

One resident said: "I agree with history, but they didn't call Port Royal Golf Course, Death Valley Golf Course.

"For two years that park has been operating - Bermuda is a beautiful place. Why does such a great park have to have such a morbid name? I won't take a child there. History does have its place and maybe there should be a plaque there to honour those who may have been killed in that area. But that is not a suitable name for a child's playground."

The Southampton Parish Council meeting saw a moderate crowd on hand at the Port Royal Primary School auditorium to address the needs of the Southampton area.

Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sport Brenton Roberts said the history surrounding the naming of the field could not be ignored.

He explained that road stretching from White Hill Field in Sandys to the Southampton Esso Service Station was deemed a "death trap" by motorists many years ago after several fatal accidents.

He said the name came after Port Royal Golf Course donated the land to the Government and after a contest on a Bermuda website.

"Port Royal gave us that portion of land, which was to be made into a playground for the children," he said. "Because they were the ones donating the land, they were the ones we asked to name it."

But the frustrated residents questioned why they were not asked their input two years ago during the naming project, and they said the name was not suitable for a children's playground.

Mr. Roberts said that there were proper channels and procedures to go through before the name could be changed.

"We as young people were always taught about that area," he said. "If there is any attempt to change the name, it should be done with those in mind who it means something to. Just as you are passionate about it there are hundreds of other people who are passionate about keeping the name."

But Mr. Roberts said his Ministry was willing to compromise and said, pending written applications, comments and a petition to the Southampton Parish Council, the name change might not be too far off.