Bilingual signs to be decided today

STREET signs in Cornwall could be bilingual in future as a result of plans put forward by Cornwall Council this week.

A draft Cornish language policy was set to be considered by the council's cabinet today and puts forward ways to promote the Cornish language, including making all street signs bilingual.

While not going as far as in Wales, where all road signs are bilingual, the policy would see residential street signs and signs in council buildings in both Cornish and English.

Bilingual

The document suggests the introduction of bilingual signage in all council buildings and using Cornish in all council publications and literature, including on the council's website.

By adopting a Cornish language policy, the council hopes it will cement its role as lead partner in the Cornish Language Partnership.

The report puts forward three options to the council: having no use of Cornish, going fully bilingual or having an inclusion of Cornish "considered" for all council publications and signs.

The recommendation being put before cabinet is the third option.

Bilingual street signs are already used in the former district council areas of Kerrier and Carrick for all new and replacement signs, with developers encouraged to adopt Cornish language names when naming new developments.

The report states: "Cornwall has a strong and distinct culture, the environment, particularly industrial, is recognised through the World Heritage Site designation, similarly the maritime and artistic inheritance is very strong.

"The language is an important marker of that distinctiveness and interest in it has grown considerably recently."

It states that while language policies had been adopted by the former district and county councils, they all differed.

Today

"This report seeks to establish a coherent and consistent approach for Cornwall Council, which will fulfil the council's obligations under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and as lead body for the Cornish Language Partnership to the benefit of Cornwall."

Cornwall Council's cabinet was due to make a decision on the policy today.