'Will Waterfoot signs be in Irish?' - asks Graham

Glenariffe Improvement Group is involved in the scheme and when details came before Moyle Council, Councillor Willie Graham, said: "Before we could take this any further we would need to know what language. This could be a back door to get more Irish signs and the Council would pay for it."

Speaking at a meeting four days before Christmas, Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan told Councillor Graham: "It is not a back door into anything. What is wrong with you tonight?" and Councillor Paudie McShane (Sinn Fein) asked the Ulster Unionist to show some Christmas spirit.

Councillor McMullan said the Council's dual language policy involves signs for streets and the signs under discussion at Waterfoot were for paths.

He added: "Are we going to start doing this every time something like this comes to this Council?"

Council officer Margaret Craig said she assumed the language on the signs was English.

Councillors were told three match funding requests have been received from the Glenariffe Improvement Group in support of applications they have put forward to the North East Partnership Rural Development Programme.

A Council report said: 'If successful, two of the projects proposed would be implemented on Council property. The first of these is the 'Lights at the Mac' project which would provide mini-floodlighting at the Council-owned all-weather court on the outskirts of Waterfoot village.

'This would employ a card-operated meter system enabling use of the facility in the dark evenings. The Group expects to manage the day-to-day running and maintenance of this scheme and 'smartcards' would be sold through local outlets.

'The total cost for this project is 32,000. The group have applied for 24,000 through the Rural Development Programme.

'They have committed 2,000 of their own resources and are requesting the remaining 6,000 (18.75 per cent of the total project cost) in match funding from Council.

'The second project on Council owned property is 'Signage and Paths at the Mac'.

'This proposes that the area to the east of 'The Mac' be developed with signed pathways, opening the area up to walkers. The total cost for this project is 16,000.

'The group have applied for 12,000 through the Rural Development Programme and are putting forward 1,000 through their own resources and request 3,000 (approximately 18.75 per cent of the total project cost) in match funding from Council.'

The report's recommendation to councillors was that the Council agrees to include 9,000 in the 2010/11 Capital Budget estimate in match funding for Glenariffe Improvement Group's proposed projects on Council property.

'Since both of the above projects are on Council owned land, the Group has requested that Council insure the proposed installations (the floodlights, signage and pathways) under the existing public liability and damages insurance of Moyle District Council.

'The Group has also requested that since they expect the cost to be minimal, Council considers undertaking the responsibility of managing and maintaining the signage and paths at 'The Mac' when in situ'.

The report recommended that the Council agrees to include the proposed installations of Council insurance and to undertake the management and maintenance of signage and paths on Council property when in situ.

Meanwhile, the last of the proposals is for the development of a 'Townland Boundary Marker Scheme' which would see the erection of engraved permanent stones to mark the townland boundaries of Glenariffe and the establishment of a complimentary walking trail.

The report said: 'The total cost for this project is 36,000. The group have applied for 27,000 through the Rural Development Programme and are putting 1,000 through their own resources and request the remaining 8,000 (approximately 22.2 per cent of the total project cost)) in match funding from Council.

'Since this project is planned for implementation on privately owned lands and not Council property, it would be suggested that the Group pursue the possibility of match funding through the proposed 2010/11 Community Infrastructure Fund.'

The report recommended to councillors that the group be referred to the fund for their townlands scheme.

Councillor McMullan meanwhile said that while most of the schemes are to be congratulated in Waterfoot but he had concerns about the 'SmartCard' scheme.

He said the Glens does not have community centres "or anything else" from Moyle Council but yet the proposal was to charge people for electricity at the Waterfoot facility.

He said lights should be put in which can be on all the time at night.

Independent councillor Randal McDonnell said: "We don't want another 'airport style' illumination at night and he was worried about "grandiose overspending" on the scheme.

Meanwhile, consideration of all the matters have been deferred to get information on the signage.