Belfast should retreat from radical plan for Irish language signs

Sinn Fein claims, and the BBC also reports, that a council committee has decided that for a street sign to be considered for change from English only to bilingual will soon only need to be requested by one person who lives on the road. If 15% of people who live on it endorse the plan, it will happen. Previously the support of two thirds of residents was needed.

The News Letter last night phoned various councillors to establish if this was indeed the position, so extraordinary does it seem.

It would mean that roads across Northern Ireland’s capital city will be changed to be jointly written in Irish, even when 85% of the people who live on the road are against such a plan.

Councillor Tom Haire of the DUP said that this is “not vital expenditure at the minute”. It certainly is not, amid a global pandemic.

In fact it would be outrageous at such a time of hardship and suffering.

But that is not the only issue.

Even if these were normal times economically, it would be divisive to the point of sectarian to impose such signs in so many places where they are not wanted by residents.

If indeed some councillors are proceeding in the manner that has been reported, then this committee proposal needs to be rejected by a gathering of the entire council.

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