Bilingual Irish-English signage is going to be erected on a Co Londonderry road after a single resident said they would be in favour of it.
Cairn View, Mayogall, will get a new sign on the basis that the only resident who actually gave a view was in favour of such a move — which technically translated into a 100% majority in favour.
In all, 10 survey letters were issued by Mid Ulster District Council, in keeping with the relevant policy on bilingual street signage requests. Nine out of the 10 residents didn’t reply.
The Mid Ulster District Council area is by far the worst for vandalism of dual language street signs, with two thirds of over 300 attacks in Northern Ireland since 2020 happening there. The 209 attacks have cost ratepayers there more than £21,000.
Meanwhile, only four out of 20 residents surveyed returned their survey letters at Oakview, Dungannon. As they were all in favour of bilingual signage, new Irish-English street signs will be erected.
This will also be the case at Sunnyside Road, Stewartstown, where 14 survey letters were issued. Seven residents offered a view, and all were in favour of bilingual signage.
Things were a lot tighter on the Mullaghmoyle Road, Coalisland/Stewartstown, where 77 survey letters were issued, with 35 letters being returned. 17 were in favour, and 16 were against the erection of bilingual signage. Two survey letters deemed invalid were also returned.
Oakview in Dungannon is just one of the places in Mid Ulster getting bilingual signage after only small numbers of residents took part in a survey – but those that did were all in favour of Irish and English signage
With 52% of residents in favour of bilingual signage, the criteria — a requirement of 51% or more in favour — was just about met.
Meanwhile, a majority of residents at Lismore Road, Ballygawley, and Armaghlughey Road, Aughnacloy/Ballygawley, have voted against the erection of bilingual Irish-English street signage.
In accordance with Mid Ulster District Council’s policy, all occupiers as listed on the electoral register residing in the above areas were canvassed by post.
In the case of the Lismore Road, 23 letters were issued. Nineteen letters were returned, with 11 residents indicating they were against bilingual signage, and six being in favour (35%).
In the case of the Armaghlughey Road, 53 letters were issued. Some 22 were returned, with 15 residents indicating they were against the erection of bilingual street signage, and six in favour (29%).
As a majority of residents voted against the provision of bilingual street signage in these two areas, English-only street signs will remain.
Meanwhile, residents at Lurgaboy Lane, Dungannon, and Chambre Park, Stewartstown, have contacted Mid Ulster District Council to request their own surveys.
Residents at Orchard Park, Aughnacloy; Reaskmore Road, Dungannon and Meadowview, Moy, have already been contacted.
Last month, the council’s Environment Committee discussed the damage to 209 bilingual signs in the borough.
“I think we need to be sitting down with the police early in the New Year, because as far as I’m aware no one has ever been arrested or charged with any of this,” said Sinn Fein councillor John McNamee. “If you look at the figures right across the different areas, it seems to be some sort of orchestrated campaign here.”