Bilingual signs up in Moyle

Street nameplates in English and Irish have gone up in places like Altananam Park in Ballycastle and English/Ulster-Scots signs have been erected in the Bushmills district.

Meanwhile, surveys of residents will be carried out at ten streets were requests for signage previously came in.

In another development, a fresh batch of applications have come to Moyle Council.

The new applications are for the following areas - Kilnadore Brae and Kilnadore Park in Cushendall and the Glenmakeeran Road at Ballyvoy; Bay View Park in Waterfoot and a number of areas in Ballycastle - Drumavoley Road, Gortamaddy Park, White Hall Avenue and Whitepark Drive in Ballycastle.

Surveys are sent out to householders and if more than two thirds of the surveys that come back to the Council want bilingual signage it will be granted.

Drumavoley Road is where Ballycastle Ulster Unionist councillor Helen Harding lives and Sinn Fein councillor Cathal Newcombe also lives there.

When discussions were held in the past on bilingual signage, Cllr Harding feared the issue could mean people in areas where both sections of the community live in “peace and harmony” would be forced to decide on the issue, possibly against their will.

It only takes one person on a street to call for such a survey.

Irish/English signs have previously been erected in places like Loughgiel, Dunloy and Rasharkin in the Ballymoney Council area.