SCOTTISH ministers have received just two complaints about Gaelic road signs in the last 17 years.
Bilingual road signs have long been a bugbear for some proud monoglots, who’ve accused the SNP led administration of spending tens of millions of pounds on what some claim is a nationalist ploy.
Three years ago, Tory interim leader Jackson Carlaw tweeted: “An education system failing our poorest, cuts to college places, but at least the SNP spent £26m on Gaelic signs.
The tweet was later deleted when it was pointed out to him that the actual cost was closer to £2m over more than a decade.
According to statistics uncovered by the Press and Journal through freedom of information (FOI) legislation, just two complaints have been made about such signs to the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, which runs the trunk road network.
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes said: “These figures prove that most people have better things to do than complain about Gaelic road signs.
“It costs very little, largely because Gaelic names are added when the signs need replaced anyway, it enriches our culture and it’s perfectly safe.
“It is pretty obvious, but the Gaelic names are more often than not the original names.
“Usually they teach us a little bit about the history or the environment of a particular place as well.”
The SNP MSP added: “For years, Gaelic speakers have been forced to speak English, work in English and use anglicised versions of the very places they call home.
“Putting the Gaelic name, often the original, on a road sign doesn’t harm anybody and, indeed, is worthy of celebration.”
In response to an FOI request on the issue, the Scottish Government said: “In 2002, Transport Scotland, in consultation with The Highland Council and Argyll and Bute Council, established a rationale for introducing bilingual road signs on trunk roads that pass through these regions and which lead to west coast ferry ports.
“As a result, bilingual direction signing has been provided on the A82 trunk road from Tarbet to Inverness and those trunk roads leading to the ports at Kennacraig, Oban, Mallaig, Uig and Ullapool.
“This policy, which is consistent with the aims and objectives of the Gaelic Language Plan is also being extended to include the A9 north of Perth as part of the A9 dualling programme.
“We have received a total of two complaints regarding Gaelic on road signs since they were installed.”
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