Bi-lingual sign policy under review but only councillors can sanction major changes

COUNCIL officers hope to have conducted a review of Causeway Coast and Glens street naming policy by Christmas but it will be up to councillors themselves to decide on any major changes.

That was the message delivered to elected members of the Environmental Services Committee on Tuesday following a Sinn Féin request for a “review/report on the Council’s Bi-Lingual Signage Policy.”

Current rules require two thirds of households on any street to respond favourably to dual language signage requests before action is taken.

But amid controversy over Belfast City Council’s policies on branding and street signage, Sinn Féin members say scrutiny of Causeway Coast and Glens 10-year-old guidelines is long overdue.

A review was required “in the interests of good governance, fairness and respect for the growing role of the Irish language in the area”, said the party’s Sean Bateson on Tuesday.

The Head of Environmental Services, Aiden McPeake told members Causeway Coast and Glens did not have a policy specifically addressing bi-lingual signs.

Instead the council had a policy on ‘Street Naming and Property Numbering’ under which Section 5 dealt with bilingual street names.

And it had been officers' intention to review it, he added.

“We have started that process already. Realistically we should have a draft ready by Christmas but I can’t guarantee that.”

When a report is eventually delivered to the committee, it would be up to members to suggest major amendments, he said.

He confirmed that the officers’ review would amount to an assessment of whether the policy was fit for purpose and perhaps a “few tweaks.”

“If (elected) members wish to change that, that it will be at their own discretion,” said Mr McPeake.

Read the full story in this week's Chronicle.