Residents of four Omagh roads reject plans for Irish street signs

RESIDENTS of four roads around Omagh have rejected the proposed erection of Irish language signs in their areas.

People living on seven roads in and around the town were contacted recently by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council after applications were made to have dual language signs erected on their streets.

Such applications can be made by a resident of an area, a local councillor or a property developer.

For the signs to be erected, at least 15% of residents living in the area who respond to a subsequent council survey must be in support of the new signs.

While this threshold was met for three of the roads put forward in the new applications, the response from residents in the other four areas did not meet the 15% threshold.

The council has now recommended erecting the new Irish language signs on the three roads, at a total cost of £9,000.

The roads where the new proposed signs will be erected are Golan Road, Glencam Road and Glenderg Road.

The four roads where not enough residents were in support of the proposed Irish language signs were Glengawna Road, Edenbrack Road, Glencordial Road and Kingarrow Road.

Of the 25 households living on Glengawna Road, only three responded to the council survey. They were all in favour of the new street signs, but this was not enough to meet the required threshold.

Of the 19 households on Edenbrack Road, 11 responded to the council survey and all were opposed to the proposal for a new Irish language street sign.

Only two of the 12 households on Glencordial Road responded to the council survey, and both households were opposed to the new street signs.

Of the 39 households on Kingarrow Road, 19 responded to the council survey. Eighteen of the households which responded were against the plans for the new streets signs, with only one in favour of the proposal.

Of the households who responded to the survey, these were the percentages in favour on the other three roads: Golan Road (33%); Glencam Road (29%) and Glenderg Road (30%).

A report on the latest dual language sign applications is due to be discussed at a meeting tomorrow evening of the council’s Environmental Services committee.

The report states the council approved a budget of £150,000 in February 2024 for the 2024/25 financial year for the installation of dual language signage.

This budget also covers the cost of replacement of damaged signs.

Council officers have recommended councillors approve the £9,000 needed for the new Irish language signs on the three local roads.