Landward Caithness representative David Flear was one of six local councillors who attended the meeting in Inverness on Wednesday with senior delegates from the local authority and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the Gaelic development agency.

Mr Flear told the John O'Groat Journal there was "a willingness to look at the issues raised by the Highland Council's policy on signs".

However, he revealed the planned meeting between Caithness representatives and the board – scheduled for May 7 – has been postponed.

Mr Flear said it was felt such a move would provide an opportunity to find a resolution to the problem within the Highland Council, as the bilingual signs are part of the local authority's Gaelic Plan, before putting any proposals to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for a response.

"There was a drive to find solutions to this problem from all the parties involved. The meeting was very constructive and helpful. People were speaking about the issues.

"We accept the Gaelic Plan and the Scottish Government directive, but the local authority and the board need to accept the concerns expressed in Caithness about the bilingual signs. We support the Gaelic policy but feel there needs to be some flexibility regarding the signs," said Mr Flear.

He explained that he and five other local councillors – John Rosie (Thurso), Marion Thurso (Thurso), Bill Fernie (Wick), Willie Mackay (Landward Caithness) and Donnie Mackay (Thurso) – attended the meeting with council convener Sandy Park, council leader Michael Foxley, Inverness provost Jimmy Gray, and chief executive Alistair Dodds. Also there were representatives of Bòrd na Gàidhlig including chairman Arthur Cormack.

A spokesman for Bòrd na Gàidhlig agreed that the problem over the bilingual signs needs to be resolved.

He said: "It was quite a constructive meeting and gave the various parties an opportunity to meet and explain their positions. It was helpful."

It is understood that a proposal on the way forward regarding the signs could be made in time for a board meeting on May 12.

The spokesman made it clear that although next month's scheduled meeting between Caithness representatives and the agency has been postponed, representatives are always willing to engage with the public.

"If anybody asks us to come to a meeting we would be delighted to attend," he said.

A Highland Council spokesman confirmed that there would be "ongoing discussions" about the bilingual road signs.

Meanwhile, Mr Flear said senior councillors and officials who attended this week's meeting stressed that no high-level talks had taken place about the possibility of moving the 2010 Mod out of Caithness because of the county's opposition to the signs.

"There were no high-level talks at all," said Mr Flear.

Thurso councillor John Rosie agreed. "It is a fact that no high-level talks have taken place within the Highland Council with regard to the Mod. The story was a complete fabrication, the reasons being best known to the perpetrator," he stated.

Several media reports last week suggested that talks had taken place within the Highland Council to put pressure on Mod organisers An Comunn Gàidhealach to change the venue.

The county was said to be in danger of losing the prestigious event because of the local opposition to the bilingual signs. That, it was claimed, sparked a growing unease and concern that the Mod in Caithness would be a flop.

g.calder@nosn.co.uk

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