Northern Ireland

`Historic day' as Belfast City Council adopts new bilingual street sign policy branded `unbalanced' by unionists

Irish Language street signs in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Irish Language street signs in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell. Irish Language street signs in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell.

SINN Féin has welcomed as "a historic day" Belfast City Council's adoption of a new bilingual street sign policy described as "unbalanced" by unionists.

First ratified in October by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, the new approach was passed by the full council on Thursday night.

It will see the threshold of two-thirds of residents consent needed reduced to just 15 per cent, with a single resident or local councillor able to request the survey.

The move has been hailed a victory by Irish language campaigners, but applications can be made for any language.

It has been estimated that five Irish language signs will be put up a month at an estimated cost of around £1,000.

Sinn Féin councillor Séanna Walsh said the process ensures "an equitable and progressive policy".

"This is a historic day as Belfast City Council has voted to adopt a new bilingual policy which will ensure the visibility of Irish street signage in the city and advance a new, progressive and shared Belfast."

He said the Sinn Féin proposal which "gained the support of the majority of parties" had followed "widespread consultation".

However, the DUP said "Sinn Fein, Alliance Party, SDLP, Green Party and People Before Profit voted through radical changes to the thresholds required".

The policy was opposed by unionists.

"This drastic change in council policy is grossly unfair and unbalanced," a DUP spokesman said, warning it would allow a sign "even if 85 per cent residents were opposed to it.. (triggered) by a councillor who does not even have to live in the street".

"Many people regard the addition of an Irish street sign as cultural branding of their area."

He said the changes "will damage community relations in areas whilst are quietly mixed" and will "be cited as an argument against the devolution of further powers to local government".

UUP councillor Sonia Copeland described it as "retrograde and divisive".

"By no stretch of the imagination could it be said to represent the `appropriate demand' which is also referred to in the (Good Friday) Agreement."

She said it "also raises interesting questions for the Parades Commission".

"If Irish language signs can be erected where 85 per cent of residents oppose them, will Orange parades now be permitted where 85 per cent of residents oppose them? Where exactly does this all end up?"

Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough Brown said his party "put forward a fair compromise that provides a respectful, inclusive approach to the Irish language and Ulster Scots".

"It is unfortunate that rather than engage in the process, others have waited until a compromise position has been found to further politicise this issue.”

Loyalist Jamie Bryson took issue with the BBC for accompanying a report with picture of an Irish language sign on an east Belfast street sharing his surname, accusing it of "a increasingly overt nationalist leaning" and being "infatuated with appealing to the twitterati and winning the plaudits of the latte drinking liberal elite".

Meanwhile, a request to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council seeking direct financial support for Irish Language Week was referred to a community grants scheme.

An officer's report recommended the council provides approval for Conradh naGaelige to host an event within Covid guidelines, noting as part of the Good Relations Programme there is "provision for projects that explore places and culture within the borough".

TUV councillor Timothy Gaston's amendment for the council to "signpost the group to the grant process all groups go through on a yearly basis" was passed.