After a Wokingham Borough Council competition to give it a fresh name which attracted 50 entries, Eustace Crescent has been renamed Phoenix Avenue, ahead of two blocks of 1960s-built flats in the road being demolished.

rundown Eustace Crescent – made up of council homes – has been locally known as ‘Useless Crescent’ for many years.

A multi-million pound redevelopment of modern flats and homes is set to replace the blocks of flats with construction work potentially starting by the end of the year.

Phoenix Avenue was the unanimous choice for the judging panel as it was felt it reflects the positive future of the road with the new development.

Marcia Milsom, of Reading Road, Winnersh, won the competition and with it a £100 Marks and Spencer voucher and the opportunity to contribute an item to a time capsule being buried on the site prior to construction work starting.

She said: “I was truly surprised to win and had forgotten all about entering. It was one of those spur of a moments; thinking of the name and then entering. I’ve never won a competition before – only came second in one in the 1980s!” Ideas for names submitted in the competition were inspired by local history, geography and wildlife, as well as current affairs.

Cllr John Kaiser, executive member for general planning and affordable housing, said: “We want to thank everybody who has taken the time to enter this competition. Fifty entries is a marvellous result – thank you.

“You gave us some really great suggestions and we, the judges, a difficult task.” Hoardings have already gone up around the site ahead of its demolition and planning application for the new development of modern homes ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses is due be submitted by Wokingham Housing Limited, the council’s property company, shortly.