A DUP proposal to place signs identifying ancient townlands across the borough of Ards and North Down has failed after councillors questioned its costs during financially difficult times for local authorities.
At the recent meeting of the Environment Committee at Ards and North Down Council, a DUP motion failed, as questions were raised by other parties about signage spending in the context of a cost of living crisis and the likelihood of rates hikes across Northern Ireland’s 11 councils next year. Seven councillors from Alliance, the UUP, the Green Party and the SDLP voted against the proposal, with six voting in support from the DUP.
The motion, by DUP Councillor Robert Adair, proposed installing signage identifying the townlands of Ballyblack and Kirkistown on the Ards Peninsula. It also urged commissioning a council officer report to “bring forward proposals to incorporate townland signage across the borough”.
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A townland is the smallest territorial division of civil administration. Dating from medieval times or earlier, townlands were used to identify a small area of land at a local level. There are over 64,000 townlands on the island of Ireland. They can range from just a few acres in size to several hundred, particularly in mountainous areas. In Co Down, there are 1,285 townlands.
UUP Councillor Richard Smart told the committee: “I do think it is worthwhile to have our townlands marked out, they are communities in themselves, and there is historic interest there. But I have one issue with the wording of this specific proposal, and that is that we are proceeding with the signage before we have the costs.
“I realise they are not going to cost millions of pounds, but they can be costly enough to produce the signs, apply for the planning etc. I am concerned that just right now when we face a very uncertain financial future, where we are going to have to make very difficult decisions about core budgets, that if we are making decisions on things that would be very nice to have, we need to have the figures in front of us.”
SDLP Councillor Boyle said: “I would rather see facts and stats of where we are going forward on this. If we were just dealing with two signs and waiting for an officer’s report I would be more comfortable with that, rather than tasking officers with proposals.”
DUP Councillor Robert Adair, who failed to accept any amendments from the other parties, said: “The cost of village signs being erected here recently has been £1,300 apiece, but that is not what I am asking for a townland sign. A townland sign is quite similar to a street sign. Part of the £1,330 includes planning permission, and a townland sign would not need this as they are the same as street signs.”
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