By Philip Bradfield

Copyright newsletter

The latest meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Services committee meeting approved the signs for Mary Street in Lurgan, Under ABC rules a third of residents must request the change. This is followed by a survey, which requires a two-thirds majority to support the change. Councillors then have the final say. A total of 15 residents were surveyed in Mary Street, with 13 supporting the change. A request for Irish street signs at the Beeches, off the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, was also approved. All 251 households were surveyed with 177 approving the change. The first Irish language signs approved by the council were in Woodside Gardens in Portadown, also off the Garvaghy Road, a year ago. While the ABC council requires a two-thirds majority to change signs, three other councils will change their signs if 15% of residents ask for it – even if 85% of residents oppose the move. In May Derry City and Strabane Council followed Belfast and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in adopting a policy of changing signs if just 15% of householders on a street want them. The surveys can be triggered by a single resident asking for it – which has angered unionists in all three councils. Four councils which still use the two thirds threshold – Ards and North Down, Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon, Antrim and Newtownabbey, and Lisburn and Castlereagh. Two, Mid-Ulster and Newry Mourne and Down, need more than 50% of those surveyed to back signs.