Resident's petition for Ali G landmark in town

A petition calling for an attraction celebrating Ali G in a Surrey town is to be discussed by councillors.

Residents of Staines launched the petition in light of the fictional character's new film, to be released in October.

Alex Balkan, petition organiser and local resident since 2015, said that he wanted the town to embrace its association with the Sacha Baron Cohen character in good humour.

The satirical character first appeared on screens in 1998 as the leader of a fictional gang called Da West Staines Massif.

If successful, the petition would see a temporary landmark installed in the town.

Balkan said: "I set up the petition with the strong belief that local people in the area can take a joke, and I think I was proven right.

"At the end of the day, I just want this thing through. I think it would be a social and economic benefit to the area."

The petition has gathered more than 300 signatures across both its online and paper options, passing the threshold needed for council discussion next month, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Balkan argued that a short-term landmark commemorating the release of Ali G: Who Iz I? would bring economic benefits to Staines, comparable to temporary exhibitions like Manchester's Bee in the City trail in 2018.

The release of Ali G Indahouse in 2002 brought both the character and Staines to international attention, although many residents felt it gave an unfairly negative impression of the town.

The town changed its name to Staines-upon-Thames 14 years ago, reportedly to distance itself from any negative links to the character.

Balkan, a former councillor for Runnymede Borough Council, said that he did not expect residents to pay for the monument, instead calling for a partnership of community groups to explore options.

He said: "At the bare minimum, what the petition asks for is an event associated with the movie – some kind of celebration.

"We can assess going forward whether we should do something more permanent associated with Ali G."

The petition has been formally submitted through Spelthorne Borough Council's petition scheme.

It is scheduled to be considered at a committee meeting on 8 September.

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