Cornwall Branch Celtic League calls for increased powers of roads and transport and dual road signage in Cornwall. Letter to the press and certain politicians:
AN KESUNYANS KELTEK - SCOREN GERNEWEK
The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League
(The Celtic League has Roster Consultative Status at the United Nations)
3rd August, 2014
Dear Editor
With Cornish National identity, culture and language resurgent and now officially recognised, bearing in mind that Cornwall and the Cornish predate the arrival by many years of the English from what is now Germany and the creation of a small English state in 890AD, the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League believe that now is the time for control of Cornwall’s roads and transport infrastructure to be taken from the ineffective and distant Westminster government and to be administered right here in the Duchy.
This move would ensure more effective decisions would be made locally whilst offering a greater degree of democratic accountability.
Along with the transfer of such control, dual language signage currently becoming the norm on street names in Cornwall should be extended to road signs and would represent a natural progression.
Inquiries reveal that such signage could be replaced on a like for like basis incurring no extra cost and despite the feeble, tired and fallacious arguments put forward by some that this may represent a hazard to road safety, research in other Countries where dual language signage occurs has revealed no increase in road traffic collisions or incidents.
Wales, parts of Scotland, Eire, the Isle of Man, Autonomous Regions of Spain and Quebec to name but a few Countries, States and Regions have incurred no concerns whatsoever as a result of bi-lingual signage.
The Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League has consulted with both its membership and many hundreds of others in this matter following the concerns of dyslexic Conservative Councillor Tom French (St Austell Bay) who felt bi-lingual road signs might prove dangerous for people with the condition. This is nonsense and the Celtic League has discussed this with dyslexic members and followers both in Cornwall and further afield including in parts where such signage occurs, revealing no issue arising at all. Some of those consulted are authors and poets, academics and administrators, hence users of many languages despite their condition.
Further, it is strongly felt by many including those with dyslexia, that if such a condition impedes a driver’s ability to read road signs to the levels suggested by Councillor French in recent West Briton reports, then such a motorist might already represent a hazard on the roads when dealing with such Cornish place names as Marzanvose, Perranzabuloe, Badharlick, Calvadnack, Carthamartha, Tywardreath and Perranarworthal to name but a few.
Referral to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency via the police might already be a last resort in such cases should a driver’s abilities be so badly impaired by a medical condition although we feel that comments such as those made by Councillor French are an insult to those who thrive despite dyslexia including many of our members.
Yours faithfully
Assistant General Secretary
Celtic League.
Councillor French's website:
http://www.cllrfrench.staustell.co.uk/
AN KESUNYANS KELTEK - SCOREN GERNEWEK
The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League
(The Celtic League has Roster Consultative Status at the United Nations)
3rd August, 2014
Dear Editor
With Cornish National identity, culture and language resurgent and now officially recognised, bearing in mind that Cornwall and the Cornish predate the arrival by many years of the English from what is now Germany and the creation of a small English state in 890AD, the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League believe that now is the time for control of Cornwall’s roads and transport infrastructure to be taken from the ineffective and distant Westminster government and to be administered right here in the Duchy.
This move would ensure more effective decisions would be made locally whilst offering a greater degree of democratic accountability.
Along with the transfer of such control, dual language signage currently becoming the norm on street names in Cornwall should be extended to road signs and would represent a natural progression.
Inquiries reveal that such signage could be replaced on a like for like basis incurring no extra cost and despite the feeble, tired and fallacious arguments put forward by some that this may represent a hazard to road safety, research in other Countries where dual language signage occurs has revealed no increase in road traffic collisions or incidents.
Wales, parts of Scotland, Eire, the Isle of Man, Autonomous Regions of Spain and Quebec to name but a few Countries, States and Regions have incurred no concerns whatsoever as a result of bi-lingual signage.
The Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League has consulted with both its membership and many hundreds of others in this matter following the concerns of dyslexic Conservative Councillor Tom French (St Austell Bay) who felt bi-lingual road signs might prove dangerous for people with the condition. This is nonsense and the Celtic League has discussed this with dyslexic members and followers both in Cornwall and further afield including in parts where such signage occurs, revealing no issue arising at all. Some of those consulted are authors and poets, academics and administrators, hence users of many languages despite their condition.
Further, it is strongly felt by many including those with dyslexia, that if such a condition impedes a driver’s ability to read road signs to the levels suggested by Councillor French in recent West Briton reports, then such a motorist might already represent a hazard on the roads when dealing with such Cornish place names as Marzanvose, Perranzabuloe, Badharlick, Calvadnack, Carthamartha, Tywardreath and Perranarworthal to name but a few.
Referral to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency via the police might already be a last resort in such cases should a driver’s abilities be so badly impaired by a medical condition although we feel that comments such as those made by Councillor French are an insult to those who thrive despite dyslexia including many of our members.
Yours faithfully
Assistant General Secretary
Celtic League.
Councillor French's website:
http://www.cllrfrench.staustell.co.uk/