Wick airport Gaelic sign bid branded ‘unnecessary nonsense’
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A BID to erect a sign in English and Gaelic at Wick Airport has been slammed as "unnecessary nonsense" by a Highland councillor.
Graeme Smith opposes the plan and described it as "a political statement" which would mislead visitors about the area’s heritage rather than enhance it.
His Thurso colleague, Donnie Mackay, took a similar view and said the money would be better spent on more pressing issues at a time of economic restraint.
The councillors hit out after Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd requested the local authority put up a directional sign at the airport to provide information to visitors heading into the town centre, John O’Groats and other places.
HIAL has asked for a sign as there is nothing at the airport at present, but under the terms of the Highland Council’s policy such a sign would have to include Gaelic. Only street name signs do not need to be bilingual.
But the plan has been attacked by Mr Smith who feels it is not necessary to have a bilingual sign at the airport.
He told the Caithness Courier that such a sign would be "more likely to distort the visitor’s interpretation of our local heritage rather than enhance it".
Mr Smith claimed if the sign is installed the voters of Caithness and particularly Wick would be entitled to ask why money was spent on a bilingual sign at a time of economic restraint.
He argued that the Highland Council policy could be ignored on this occasion as the sign is a request and not a requirement.
"It may be desirable but it is not required," he said.
Mr Smith, who represents Wick, reckoned the majority of local councillors would be against the bilingual sign but said some would support it as they are afraid of "opposing the hierarchy and bringing down the wrath of the Gaelic gods. They accept what Glenurquhart Road [council headquarters] says to get one or two crumbs from the top table."
He said there would be no advantage in having a bilingual sign at the airport. "There are not too many people wandering about the streets in Wick like the Ancient Mariner looking for directions," added Mr Smith.
Mr Mackay was also unimpressed. He stressed he has no objection to a directional sign being installed at the airport to provide information to visitors, but does not see any need for Gaelic to be included.
"We have a number of potholes in Caithness and I would sooner see the money spent on that rather than bilingual signs in either Gaelic or Norse. I think it is all wrong and goes against the public mood.
"There are better things we could be spending the money on at this time," said Mr Mackay, who agreed with Mr Smith’s point about the sign being a request and not a requirement.
Caithness ward manager David Sutherland confirmed the council received a request from HIAL for a directional sign at Wick Airport to help provide information for tourists to the area. He said council policy was that all new signs other than street signs were supposed to include English and Gaelic.
Mr Sutherland added that guidance is being sought about the appropriate Gaelic wording for the sign and he expects the matter to be decided by senior officials in the next few weeks.
A HIAL spokeswoman said: "We understand that the Highland Council has a statutory obligation to develop and implement a Gaelic language plan and part of that commitment is raising the profile of Gaelic by using it consistently, alongside English, in road signs."
She added: "We need the travelling public to find our airports easily and clear directional signage is key to achieving that."
