Council agrees to English-only signs

Council agrees to English-only signs

16 January 2013

DOWN Council has finally agreed to erect English-only signs illustrating a new walking trail in Downpatrick.

The money for the project is being partly provided by the Tourist Board, but a number of local politicians are unhappy with the organisation’s “English only policy” governing tourist information signs it funds.

Before agreeing to accept the Tourist Board cash, Down Council sought its own legal opinion as some politicians expressed concern about the possible ramifications of not erecting signs in English and Irish in line with local authority policy.

Council lawyers confirmed at Monday night’s meeting that the local authority could accept the Tourist Board money, even though it has it’s own dual language policy.

The Downpatrick walking trail is one of a number of district-wide tourism projects worth an estimated £1m which the Tourist Board, Down Rural Area Partnership and Down Council are all helping finance. The Tourist Board’s contribution across the various projects is just over £200,000.

The other projects include new walking routes across the district, the St. Patrick’s Way/Pilgrim Trail outside Downpatrick and new signs at Newcastle’s Donard Park.

Politicians spent over two hours debating whether to accept the Tourist Board money on Monday night before finally agreeing to do so. Over one hour of their deliberations focused on the legal advice provided by the council’s lawyers and was held in secret.

DUP councillor William Dick said while he fully understood the aspirations of those who wanted the new walking trail signs in English and Irish, the legal advice made it “abundantly clear” they would be in English only, with the money on offer from the Tourist Board having to be spent before the end of the financial year.

Councillor Robert Burgess (UUP) expressed concern at the delay in “getting on with the job of erecting the new signs” to help promote the district to visitors, while Councillor Garth Craig (DUP) urged the council to move forward without further delay.

Independent councillor Cadogan Enright said the council should accept the Tourist Board funding “under protest” and make it clear that it did not agree with the organisation’s English only policy when it came to financing tourist information signs.

Sinn Fein councillor Willie Clarke suggested the district’s tourism product would be “enhanced” by having dual language signs and also issued a reminder that Down Council operates a dual language policy, as does its neighbour in Newry and Mourne with whom it merges with in 2015.

SDLP councillor Gareth Sharvin said the financial support provided by the Tourist Board will provide a boost for the local tourist industry.

“For us to support this programme of work we are saying ‘yes’ to tourists in our district. I have been continually contacted by residents and local groups wanting improvement to such routes as St. Patrick’s Way and St. Patrick’s Pilgrim Trail,” he continued.

“Down Council is now in a position to improve, promote and exceed in promoting what our district has to offer in terms of tourism and the Tourist Board support will assist in that,” he added.