The residents of Cloughey on the Ards Peninsula have been given assurances from Stormont’s infrastructure minister that road signs mispelling the village’s name will be replaced.
But what Liz Kimmins termed “underfunding and austerity by the British government” means it could be years before the new signs are in place.
The small Co Down village on the eastern seaboard of the Ards Peninsula takes its name from the Irish for ‘stony or rocky place’. However, according to Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, consistently spelling Cloughey’s name correctly has proved a challenge for Roads NI, the body responsible for installing and maintaining road signs.
It is variously referred to on signs in the area by its correct name, but also as Cloghy and Cloughy.
Ms Armstrong insists her campaign to standardise her local village’s name isn’t solely to satisfy the pedants but is for practical purposes too.
“With people these days receiving regular deliveries to their door, it’s important that those making the delivery have the correct address,” she told The Irish News.
“Unfortunately, the various spellings of Cloughey, coupled with the fact that there are other similarly named places in Co Down, means it can get quite confusing for those not familiar with the area.”
The Strangford MLA recently tabled a written Assembly question asking the infrastructure minister to ensure all divisions within her department, including Roads NI, use the correct spelling of Cloughey.
She also requested that officials “stop the use of and replace signs, with the incorrect spelling of Cloghy and Cloughy”.
According to the minister’s response, her officials “are aware of several older directional signs that use the spelling Cloghy”.
“As the member will be aware, my department has been operating in a difficult financial environment for a number of years due to underfunding and austerity by the British Government and limited budget resources mean we must prioritise our interventions to those locations deemed most in need,” Ms Kimmins said.
“For this reason, the spelling will be amended as and when signage comes to the end of its natural life and is in need of replacement.”
Ms Armstrong welcomed the minister’s commitment to replace the signs – eventually – and while acknowledging there were greater priorities, said she was disappointed that residents would be forced to wait for the correct signage.
“I appreciate budgets are tight and there are more pressing matters but it makes me wonder when, if ever, the people of Cloughey will get their correct signs,” she said.
“In my experience road signs are only replaced when they’re knocked over, so we could be waiting for some time.”
Ms Kimmins’ predecessor and Sinn Féin colleague John O’Dowd last year indicated that the delay in pedestrianising Hill Street in Belfast city centre was due to “underfunding and austerity by the British government”.
