History was made last week in the ABC borough when the first-ever application for bilingual street signage – at Woodside Gardens, Portadown – was recommended for adoption under the council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy.
And while the ground-breaking decision, adopted at a Planning & Regulatory Services committee meeting held on September 11, will need to be ratified at full council on Monday (September 23), it seems unlikely that it will be challenged at this very late stage, given the very lengthy process which led to such an outcome.
There had only been one previous attempt – at Woodside Hill, Portadown – to have bilingual English-Irish signage erected, however, it had been rejected by the local authority.
There are only 10 dwellings and one commercial premises at Woodside Gardens.
In accordance with Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council policy regarding requests for bilingual street signage, a survey was carried out to elicit the views of local residents at Woodside Gardens – namely eight residents, one commercial premises owner and one commercial premises tenant.
All residents and the commercial premises tenant were in favour of bilingual signage, while the owner of the commercial premises took a neutral view – well in excess of the two-thirds majority required.
The applicant collected and posted back a number of the surveys, which is not in breach of policy.
The matter was meant to be discussed at a May 1 Planning & Regulatory Services Committee meeting.
However, an unnamed individual had contacted head of Building Control, Tom Lavery, the evening before, requesting a meeting with the senior council officer to discuss the council’s dual language policy.
The matter was revisited again at the June 5 committee meeting, with a recommendation to defer the decision until July 9.
A number of speakers spoke both in favour and against the bilingual signage application at the July 9 meeting, including Carla Lockhart MP who expressed strong views against.
Third parties were then given a chance to submit written and verbal representations to the committee. A site meeting was also arranged on August 7.
The views expressed give a measure of the depth of feelings on the bilingual signage issue.
A representative from Irish language body, Conradh na Gaeilge, wrote: “Research has consistently supported the case for increased language visibility, particularly in the context of minoritised languages.
“It increases normalisation, tolerance and understanding of the language. This is a sentiment that we wish to impress upon the committee, particularly given that over 90% of our place names here derive directly from Irish.
“Affording rights to a minority does not infringe upon the rights of the majority; it has never been demonstrated what impact inclusive, dual language signage, which would see Irish placed alongside English and in no way replacing it, has on any member of any community.”
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In sharp contrast, a Parkmount Junior LOL 150 representative voiced strong opposition to the move, writing: “As we are a youth organisation, we would be concerned that this obvious marking of territory may well increase tensions between young people, not only in this area but across the town as a whole.
“The area around the People’s Park, where this proposed signage [is], will only be a number of metres away and clearly visible from the main entrance. It should remain a welcoming neutral space for all sections of our community, particularly our young people.”
One objector felt particularly strongly on the issue, writing: “[I am] a former resident of Woodside, an area in which I was born and raised until my family were forced to move from our family home, due to sectarian intimidation.
“I find it abhorrent – to say the least – any suggested divisive signage would be given permission to be erected.
“Since the early 1970s, this area in which both traditions lived in peace and harmony was ethnically cleansed of the majority of Protestant residents, and in some cases Protestant residents paid the ultimate sacrifice at the hands of republican terrorists.
“If permission is granted for this signage, it will further demonstrate that the lessons of the past have not been learned and this will further alienate the small number of Protestant people still in the area, who are afraid to speak out.”
Another objector wrote: “I would like to oppose the Irish language signage going up in the Woodside area. This signage is just more evidence that the small Protestant community in this area have basically no rights. This area of Portadown is a cold house for Protestants.”
The Parkmount Arch Committee of Carleton Street Orange Hall claimed that the Irish language was being “weaponised”.
They wrote in their objection letter: “We are writing to you regarding our wholehearted opposition to an application for a dual language language street sign in Woodside Gardens, a few hundred metres from where we have annually erected our Loyal Orange Order traditional arch.
“The application for the erection of an Irish language street sign clearly demonstrates the recent upsurge in the weaponisation of the Irish language by certain elements within the Catholic/nationalist/republican community, to heighten tensions between communities and mark territory in areas.
“Our arch has over the years been constantly attacked, but our resolve has been steadfast as we are very much part of the area and community in which these divisive signs have been applied to be erected.”
The Drumcree Community Trust, however, felt that bilingual signage was just recognition for the growing Irish-speaking community in Portadown: “The presence locally for over 25 years of the option of full-time Irish-medium education for children has proven to be very positive and successful.
“Many local children have spent their entire educational lives being taught through the Irish language. It is our view, and one shared by many residents and families locally, that the bilingualisation of street names can only have a further positive impact within the immediate locality.”
Speaking at the September 11 Planning & Regulatory Services committee meeting, Cllr Paul Duffy (Sinn Féin, Portadown DEA) commented: “Just basically to say that this has been debated and debated and debated, and to just go around again to say the same things over and over, I can’t see the point.
“I would like a recorded vote on it. I would like to propose the application for language signage for Woodside.
“It has been kicked down the road, and kicked down the road, and basically there’s no more road. This decision needs made. There’s seven or eight other councils that have this policy in place.
“I think we should just go ahead, move onwards and get this application over the line. It’s dual language signage, there’s no threat to no one. I’d like to propose the application.”
Committee vice-chair, Cllr Peter Lavery (Alliance, Lurgan DEA) pointed to the historic precedent which was about to be made: “I would just like to thank Tom and his team for processing all that [went] on with this application, as well as the internal legal advisors and the external legal advisor. It’s been a complex one.
“I suppose it’s good to start off by acknowledging that there may be different views on this application, however we have to acknowledge that an applicant went through the process for the signs, they followed the various requirements set out within the the legislation.
“For me, the massive thing that stood out is that 100% of the residents on the street supported this application. You can’t get higher than 100%.
“It’s unfortunate that politics has come into what is a fairly straightforward street signage issue. It’s clear that the residents of Woodside Gardens really want this street sign, so I think we should follow their wishes and give it to them.
“It’s a historic decision. This may be the first dual language street sign in a residential setting in this borough. No doubt there’ll be other applications in various languages in the future.
“For me it’s pretty clear that even though there’s been some external objectors from outside the area, the residents of Woodside Gardens are united in their desire for the signs, and as such we should acquiesce to it.
“I second that proposal that we agree to provide dual language street signs in Woodside Gardens.”
Alderman Gareth Wilson (DUP, Cusher DEA) did not formally object to the application, however he stressed the importance of heeding legal advice when forming balanced views on any matter, including this one: “It gets a wee bit concerning when people say it should be just done and dusted. That’s not what our legal advisers have said, that’s not the law on this, we have to be seen to play an active part in giving due regard to the views of people, not only on the street but all other material considerations.
“This is only the second one we’ve dealt with in that regard. The first one, if truth be told, others would have had that through without any real consideration at all.
“That’s when our legal advice stepped in, to ensure we followed the law in this regard.
That has been a theme that I have been keen to continue with, that every view in this matter is given a fair and adequate hearing. Our legal advisor has said previously that. Before we consider this point on the agenda, the weighting of this is all-important, that is the key part of this.
“Ignore legal advice at your peril, that’s firmly the camp that I am in, in terms of protecting ratepayers who are paying their rates to this council to administer services.
“I’m very much of the view that balance of finances really [should be] focused on, and I’ll certainly not be placing that at jeopardy, as I have sought to do right throughout my council career, representing the people of Cusher.
“It was important that those people who had concerns about this were given the fullest opportunity to express those.”
Cllr Mary O’Dowd (Sinn Féin, Lurgan DEA) argued that every possible legal hurdle had now been cleared: “We have been going around in circles, we have got the legal advice, we have been out on our site visits and we’ve done everything that was asked, and I do think today is the day we need to vote on this.”
It was then clarified that Cllr Duffy’s proposal is to accept the application for dual signage at Woodside Gardens.
Noting the committee’s stance in favour of accepting the application, committee chair, Cllr Scott Armstrong (DUP, Armagh DEA) was ready to move on to the next item on the agenda, however Alderman Wilson requested a recorded vote on this issue.
Cllr Armstrong pointed out that a recorded vote could only be taken if there was an objection to the proposal.
Alderman Wilson clarified his position: “As I said, I have concerns about it, but I have also weighted it, so whilst I’m not going to put a sham fight together on it, I would like to have the fact that I have concerns about it manifested in some way. I feel a vote would be useful in that regard.”
A recorded vote was consequently taken. Seven councillors voted in favour of the proposal. They were Cllr Fergal Donnelly (SF), Cllr Paul Duffy (SF), Cllr Ashley Mallon (SF), Cllr Sorchá McGeown (SF), Cllr Mary O’Dowd (SF), Cllr Kevin Savage (SF), Cllr Peter Lavery (Alliance).
Four councillors abstained, namely Alderman Gordon Kenney (UUP), Cllr Kyle Moutray (DUP), Alderman Gareth Wilson (DUP) and Cllr Scott Armstrong (DUP).
Cllr Duffy’s proposal to accept the application for bilingual signage at Woodside Gardens was consequently adopted.
Although highly symbolic, the recommendation to approve signage – if approved on Monday – will translate into two English street signs to be replaced by bilingual signage, at a cost of £500 for the two signs, as Woodside Gardens is a small residential area.
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