Middlesbrough Council has been accused of trying to cancel connections with one of the town’s most famous historical figures.

Captain Cook Square in the town centre is undergoing a huge revamp, first approved by the council in January 2022. In a Facebook post on Monday, bosses at the shopping centre reported it would now be known as, simply, The Square.

They described the rebrand for the square, which opened in 1999, as “a new name for a new generation”. There was angry response to the news of the rebrand.

One commenter said: “This is all designed to move away from any association from James Cook. Watch out, the hospital is next.”

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Meanwhile, the council’s Budget report has revealed plans to close Captain Cook Birthplace Museum with exhibits and artefacts moved to the Dorman Museum. Museum staffing costs would be reviewed and workers at the Stewart Park building have been informed.

Commenters on social media have said the two potential moves are being designed to remove association with Marton-born explorer Cook. Middlesbrough Council has insisted the two moves are not linked and the Mayor Chris Cooke and his Executive were not consulted on the rebrand.

A spokesperson for the council said the announcement on the Captain Cook Square Facebook page, which has now been taken down, had been made “prematurely”. Work on the rebrand will be paused and go out to public consultation, he added.

Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen also shared on his views following the publication of the Budget report. He said: “Labour run Middlesbrough council on the brink of bankruptcy… so obviously their priority is to cancel our most famous citizen, Captain James Cook, from the town by renaming areas of the town and removing him entirely and close down the Captain Cook Birthplace museum.”

The news of the proposed closure of the museum has also stirred up anger from Alexander Downer, former Foreign Minister for Australia. He wrote on social media: “Most Australians will be appalled by this far left stupidity. Cook was a great navigator and explorer. This is just another example of the mad ideology which has poisoned the modern political left.”

While former Mayor Andy Preston said: “Is Middlesbrough’s Labour Council whitewashing history to appease the woke minority? In a baffling move, they’re spending money they don’t have to rename Captain Cook Square. Local boy Cook, the world’s greatest navigator, was the first European to encounter and chart Australia.”

In social media posts, including a statement from the Middlesbrough Labour Group, Mr Preston was accused by some, including the Middlesbrough Labour Group, of being part of a decision process to rename the square 18 months ago when was Mayor. In response, Mr Preston told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the claims were “absurd”.

He said: “I can categorically say I never took any official decision. In fact I can’t even remember a conversation about it.

“Changing the name now without consultation is wrong and trying to connect my name to it is absurd.” Regarding the closure of the museum being part of the Budget proposals just days after the rebranding announcement, Mr Preston said: “To be honest, it probably is a coincidence”.

In 2020 there were calls to tear down statues of the explorer in the name of the Black Lives Matter movement. Activists claimed the 18th Century sailor Cook symbolised racial oppression and a website called toppletheracists.org published a hitlist of historic British monuments and statues they said should go.

Great Ayton’s memorial of a young James Cook was one of them. In a blog the same year, Mr Preston called on his fellow Teesside politicians to join him in “protecting the legacy of Captain Cook”. He wrote: “He was probably the greatest ever and certainly the most successful Teessider in history – and the vast majority of us are rightly proud of his achievements on his great voyages of discovery.”

Regarding the rebranding announcement, a Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: “The Square branding was promoted by Praxis, the managing agent of Captain Cook Square, after consultation with current and potential tenants in February. No council funds have been spent on the digital branding materials issued in recent days.

“The brand was designed to reflect the area’s transformation from a shopping centre into a leisure destination. No consultation on the change took place with Mayor Chris Cooke and his Executive before the announcement, which was made prematurely.

“As a result we have asked Praxis to pause work on the rebrand so it can be reviewed and include consultation with Middlesbrough residents. Exciting things are happening at Captain Cook Square and the area is integral to the regeneration of Middlesbrough town centre.”