“They feel like they have to keep their heads down”
A Northern Ireland council has approved its first bi-lingual street sign amid concerns from the DUP of residents being left with a “target” on them.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Councils’ environment committee this week approved an Irish and English dual sign for the Killultagh DEA in Glenavy.
A report in chambers showed ‘Glen River Mews’, gained the two thirds majority of neighbours, required by council policy to agree to the change. The consultation showed out of a total of 15 residents 14 were in favour (93%) and one no response.
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However, a second area at ‘Riverside Court’ Glenavy with 48 residents failed to meet the threshold with 26 in favour (54%) and two against, with 19 no responses.
DUP Alderman James Tinsley said: “I have been contacted by a number of residents of Riverside, where there are only 17 houses and the fear is people will start pointing fingers on how they voted in the council petition.
“The feedback I am getting is that some residents are fearful and concerned that how they may have responded is now out in the open and they feel like they have to keep their heads down.”
He added: “There was a door to door, let’s say, light encouragement of people to vote a certain way. I am told that there are some residents who feel like they now have a target on them. These are real life concerns and I would be doing a disservice if I did not bring this up to be noted.”
Following initial requests of one third of residents, the LCCC policy, which is unchanged from 2015, is to consult all eligible adults on the electoral register living in the area in question. A threshold of two thirds of those residents is needed to bring the request back to council chambers to be approved by councillors.
Other council areas such as Belfast requires only 15% of residents to make a bi-lingual sign request for the matter to be considered by the communities committee.
Sinn Féin councillor Gary McCleave said: “I welcome agreement in committee this evening (Nov 5) to move forward and install bi-lingual signage in our council area for the very first time.
“This is a historic decision and a huge step forward for Gaeilgeoirí living in Lisburn and Castlereagh.
“Despite a clear majority wanting a bi-libugal signs at Riverside, it was only the council’s threshold policy of two thirds of residents, that prevented their wishes for the sign change. Sinn Féin will continue working to build a society with rights and equality at its core.”
The change to the Glenavy bi-lingual sign is due to be ratified at the next full council.
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