Anger over English-only road signs

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has posted a host of photographs of signs in Llanidloes, Newtown and other Mid Wales towns with stickers they have placed over English names.

The photographs were posted by the campaign groups's Montgomeryshire branch, Cell Maldwyn, who have accused Powys County Council of treating the Welsh language with disregard.

On Twitter, Cell Maldwyn posted pictures of signs with no Welsh translation to Powys County Council’s Welsh-language Twitter account.

In Welsh they said: “Why is there an English-only sign in Llanfair Caereinion, Powys County Council? It should say Melin Newydd, Y Drenewydd (New Mills, Newtown). Will you change it, please? If you need help taking it down, we’ve got years of experience!”

David Williams, a local member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said: “For around a quarter of a century Powys Council has been under a legal duty to ensure signage is in Welsh – initially under its own language scheme and now under the Welsh Language Standards system.

Unacceptable

"So, the council has broken the law by erecting these English-only signs.

“In the light of the council’s illegal behaviour, our members are quite right to take it into their own hands to correct them. It is, after all, unacceptable for the council to treat the Welsh language with such disregard.”

A Powys County Council spokesman responded by saying they believe the stickers will cause road safety issues, and budget pressures are stopping them from introducing new signs.

A spokesman said: “The signs referred to are old and when they become unserviceable they will be replaced with bilingual signage.

"We are not able to replace existing signs which are in good condition due to budget pressures.

“We are concerned that the stickers could impact road safety, especially for the give way sign, as well as blocking important information for motorists.”