Dual language signs approved for two house street despite one house voting against

Irish dual language street signs have been approved for a two house street in south Belfast where one residency voted in favour and one voted against.

At a Belfast City Council Committee meeting, elected members agreed dual English and Irish language signs for Grangeville Drive off Upper Lisburn Road.

Two occupiers were in favour of the erection of a second street name plate, while two occupiers were not in favour.

DUP councillor for Balmoral Sarah Bunting said: “I am happy to agree to most of these, but I am going to raise again the 50/50 split in Grangeville Drive.

“This highlights how the policy can literally split neighbours – this street has two houses. One house is for the signs and one house is not.

“It is highlighting how (the policy) is causing those divisions, and upsetting good relations in the city. We have raised this time and time again.”

In 2022, councillors agreed a new policy on dual language street signs. At least one resident of any Belfast street, or a councillor, is all that is required to trigger a consultation on a second nameplate, with 15 per cent in favour being sufficient to erect the sign.

Non-responses will no longer be counted as “against” votes, and there will be an equality assessment for each application.

Before that the policy required 33.3 percent of the eligible electorate in any Belfast street to sign a petition to begin the process, and 66.6 percent to agree to the new dual language sign on the street.