Highland Council policy change on bilingual signs - urgent!

[Gràisg]

Teachdaireachd a fhuair mi bhon bhuidheann facebook
Scroll down for the English.

'Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd am beachd am poileasaidh atharrachadh air soidhnichean dà-chànanach. Aig an ìre seo bu chòir do shoidhnichean ùra, seann shoidhnichean agus feadhainn a tha deiseil a bhith dà-chànanach. Tha seo ann am Plana Gàidhlig na Comhairle a bha a' chiad phlana a chaidh aontachadh agus a tha, aig an ìre seo, glè làidir ged tha duilgheadasan ga chur an gnìomh. Tha coinneamh den làn chomhairle Diardaoin an t-seachdain seo far a bheil gluasad ann nach bi ach soidhnichean far a bheil ainmean-àite Gàidhlig. Bidh seo a' ciallachadh nach bi ach daoine ag argamaid air dè th' ann an ainm Gàidhlig. Aig deireadh an là, bidh tòrr nas lugha soighnichean Gàidhlig a' dol suas agus ni seo cron air a' Ghàidhlig. Tha iad fhathast ag ràdh gu bheil speis co-ionnan aca dhan Ghàidhlig ach chan eil seo idir a' dèanamh ciall mura h-eil dùil aca dèiligeadh ris an dà chànan san aon dòigh. Tha mi a' moladh gun sgrìobh sinn uile thuca ag ràdh gu bheil am poileasaidh glè mhath 's ceart mar a tha e agus nach gabh iad ris a' ghluasad seo. Ma ghabhas, thèid cron a dhèanamh air a' Ghàidhlig agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd.

This is a critical time for Gaelic Development and for the use of bilingual signs in Scotland. Highland Council are about to consider a change to their Gaelic Language Plan and their policy on bilingual signs. The current policy states that new signs, old signs needing replaced and others will be bilingual. This is stated in the Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan which was the first plan to be agreed in Scotland and is currently assisting the growth of Gaelic. There will be a meeting of the full council on Thursday this week where they will consider a motion which proposes to weaken the current policy so that "Bi-lingual signage will only be used where this is a true Gaelic name or established tr*nsl*t**n". This means that there will be a huge reduction in the amount of bilingual signs with a correspoding effect on Gaelic. It will also produce endless arguments about what constitutes a Gaelic place-name thus stalling progress. They are still saying, in this new motion, that they are affording equal respect to Gaelic and English even though the motion means that both languages will be dealt with in different ways, once receiving priority. I urge you all to write an email to all Highland Councillors advising them that this motion, if accepted, will significantly hamper the growth of Gaelic and will damage the language as well as The Highland Council's reputation. If accepted the Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan will no longer provide the basis for Gaelic Development in the Highlands. I have copied Highland Councillor's email addresses below. This information is in the public domain. Please be polite but firm.
Dùrachdan, Dòmhnall

[Seonaidh]

Seo iadsan - a h-uile 80, còmhla ri an partaidhean is an suidheachan.

1 david.alston.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 10 BIs L-D
2 roderick.balfour.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 18 Cull IMG
3 bill.barclay.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 10 BIs Ind
4 stuart.black.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 21 Bad L-D
5 David.Bremner.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 04 CaithL IMG
6 ian.brown.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 17 Millb Nat
7 peter.cairns.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 09 Ding Nat
8 donald.cameron.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 22 AnG Ind
9 isabelle.campbell@.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 06 WRSL L-D
10 janet.campbell.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 15 ICent L-D
11 helen.carmichael.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 13 Aird Ind
12 david.chisholm.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 09 Ding IMG
13 alasdair.christie.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 14 IWest L-D
14 bill.clark.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 12 Mall Ind
15 rob.coghill.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 04 CaithL Ind
16 peter.corbett.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 15 ICent Ind
17 jim.crawford.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 20 ISouth IMG
18 margaret.davidson.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 13 Aird Ind
19 norrie.donald.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 16 INess Ind
20 jaci.douglas.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 21 Bad Ind
21 richard.durham.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 08 Tain Ind
22 dave.fallows.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 21 Bad Nat
23 george.farlow.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 01 NWCSuth Nat
24 Bill.Fernie.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 03 Wick Ind
25 mike.finlayson.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 07 Crom Ind
26 john.finnie.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 16 INess Nat
27 David.Flear.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 04 CaithL L-D
28 john.ford.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 18 Cull Lab
29 michael.foxley.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 22 AnG L-D
30 craig.fraser.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 10 BIs Nat
31 hamish.fraser.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 11 Skye Ind
32 laurie.fraser.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 19 Nairn Ind
33 bren.gormley.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 22 AnG Nat
34 ales.graham.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 14 IWest L-D
35 james.gray.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 17 Millb Lab
36 richard.greene.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 06 WRSL Ind
37 allan.henderson.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 12 Mall Ind
38 david.henderson.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 16 INess L-D
39 drew.hendry.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 13 Aird Nat
40 john.holden.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 20 ISouth Lab
41 eddie.hunter.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 12 Mall Ind
42 donnie.kerr.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 15 ICent Nat
43 john.laing.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 11 Skye Ind
44 bet.mcallister.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 15 ICent Lab
45 isobel.mccallum.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 10 BIs Ind
46 liz.macdonald.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 19 Nairn Nat
47 jim.mcgillvray.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 05 ESuth Ind
48 deirdre.mackay.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 05 ESuth Lab
49 donald.mackay.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 02 Thur Ind
50 Willie.Mackay.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 04 CaithL Ind
51 angela.maclean.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 09 Ding L-D
52 kenneth.macleod.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 17 Millb L-D
53 katrina.macnab.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 03 Wick Ind
54 graham.marsden.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 19 Nairn L-D
55 drew.millar.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 11 Skye L-D
56 Linda Munro 01 NWCSuth L-D
57 pauline.munro.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 14 IWest Nat
58 brian.murphy.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 22 AnG Lab
59 sandy.park.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 19 Nairn Ind
60 fraser.parr.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 16 INess Lab
61 margaret.paterson.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 09 Ding Ind
62 roy.pedersen.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 20 ISouth Nat
63 thomas.prag.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 20 ISouth L-D
64 martin.rattray.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 07 Crom L-D
65 ian.renwick.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 11 Skye Nat
66 alasdair.rhind.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 08 Tain Ind
67 gregor.rimell.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 21 Bad L-D
68 john.rosie.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 02 Thur Ind
69 ian.ross.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 05 ESuth L-D
70 robbie.rowantree.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 01 NWCSuth L-D
71 audrey.sinclair.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 06 WRSL Ind
72 glynis.sinclair.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 18 Cull L-D
73 graeme.smith.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 03 Wick IMG
74 maxine.smith.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 07 Crom Nat
75 Marion.Thurso.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 02 Thur L-D
76 alan.torrance.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 08 Tain Nat
77 jean.urquhart.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 06 WRSL Nat
78 carolyn.wilson.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 07 Crom Ind
79 hamish.wood.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 13 Aird L-D
80 robert.wynd.cllr@highland.gov.uk; 18 Cull Nat

Independent 3 8 11 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 24 25 31 32 36 37 41 43 45 47 49 50 53 59 61 66 68 71 78 =>29
Ind.Mems.Grp. 2 5 12 17 73 =>5
Labour 28 35 40 44 48 58 60 =>7
Lib-Dem 1 4 9 10 13 27 29 34 38 51 52 54 55 56 63 64 67 69 70 72 75 79 =>22
SNP 6 7 22 23 26 30 33 39 42 46 57 62 65 74 76 77 80 =>17

01 NWCS'land 23 56 70 DDN
02 Thurso 49 68 75 DII
03 Wick 24 53 73 IIM
04 Landward 5 15 27 50 DIIM
05 ES'land 47 48 69 DIL
06 WRsSpfLals 9 36 71 77 DIIN
07 Cromarty 25 64 74 78 DIIN
08 Tain 21 66 76 IIN
09 Dingwall 7 12 51 61 DIMN
10 Black Isle 1 3 30 45 DIIN
11 E.a'Cheò 31 43 55 65 DIIN
12 Malaig 14 37 41 III
13 Aird 11 18 39 79 DIIN
14 I.West 13 34 57 DDN
15 I.Central 10 16 42 44 DILN
16 I.Nessside 19 26 38 60 DILN
17 I.Millburn 6 35 52 DLN
18 Culloden 2 28 72 80 DLMN
19 Nairn 32 46 54 59 DIIN
20 I.South 17 40 62 63 DLMN
21 Badenoch 4 20 22 67 DDIN
22 Gearasdan 8 29 33 58 DILN