Call to re-evalutate Gaelic language plan

CAITHNESS is not against the promotion of Gaelic in the Highlands.

Landward councillor David Flear said members of the public should not confuse the county’s disapproval of bilingual road signs with the language itself.

Mr Flear has backed the much-publicised views of his colleague, Robert Coghill, over the signs, believing money used for these could be put to better use.

But Mr Flear said opinions suggesting the Far North is completely against the language are hugely inaccurate.

He would like to see more public input going into a re-evaluated Gaelic plan.

"What we don’t want is to put out a message is that we are against Gaelic as that is not true," he said.

"Caithness embraced the Mod last year and has no issues with funding Gaelic education or culture. But it seems that if you do not embrace every piece of the language, you are seen as being against it.

"The Highlands are a multicultural region with different histories, priorities and issues. It shouldn’t be just one perspective which covers all."

Mr Coghill recently claimed money for the implementation of bilingual road signs in Caithness should be pulled to help fund front-line care services.

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