THE deadline for objections to Derry City Council's controversial bid to change Londonderry's name is looming, the city's Protestant community has been warned.

The council plans to make an application to the Privy Council to have the official name of the city changed from Londonderry to Derry.

Friday, September 11 marks the closing date for a response to the Equality Impact Assessment of the resolution to make the application.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has urged unionists from across the UK to make their views known.

"You don't have to be resident in Londonderry or even in Northern Ireland, so all in the unionist community can express the strong opinions they hold, as so many do because of the British connection with London."

Mr Campbell said the move by the council was divisive and showed it had not learned the lessons of the past.

"The last time they did this with the name of the council in the 1980s, that led to a significant deterioration in inter-community relations, so we don't want to go back to that."

Mr Campbell said the campaign was not just being fought on a single front.

"All unionist members of the Privy Council are being given all the information on this.

"A number of people have already made their views known, including expatriates now living overseas who still feel so strongly about this.

"The Orange Order and Apprentice Boys are also making sure their members are aware of the campaign and are being called on to make their views known."

The DUP MP appealed for people not to be complacent.

"I am hopeful that if the views expressed by many people are turned into action, we will have a significant body of opinion objecting."

A Belfast-based community worker has drawn up three ready-made forms for people to lodge their objections.

David Gilliland is development officer of the Shankill-based Community Convention and Develop-ment Company.

The three forms are for individuals, young people and organisations or groups.

He said plans to proceed with the controversial Privy Council application to change the name of the city would be a disaster for good relations and further alienate Protestants.

Mr Gilliland added it was futile for people to complain privately and they should telephone, write a letter or send an email to Derry City Council to object.

The activist can be contacted for forms at: david.gilliland@comcon.org.uk or at the Community Convention and Development Company in Belfast on 028 90 331461.