Ambitious plans to promote Gaelic in Dundee have been significantly scaled back.
Council chiefs have been forced to slash key elements of the proposals after opponents questioned the city’s links with the language and the potential costs involved.
A public meeting to showcase the plans had to be cancelled after just one person turned up and the city council’s chief executive, David Martin, condeded that proposals to translate street signs into the language were “inappropriate”.
He said: “Some of those commenting felt that any support for Gaelic would not be a good use of money, especially given the small number of people who speak the language in the city and the other demands on the council’s resources.”
But other members of the public were supportive of the council’s five-year Gaelic masterplan, he said.
As part of the revised proposals Dundee could bid to host the National Mod a celebration of Gaelic culture that council chief’s argue could bring millions of pounds to the city.
Council documents could also be produced in Gaelic under the plans, while staff could be given training in the language.
The amended draft plan will be considered by councillors on Monday night.
For more on this story, and a row in Fife on the same subject, see Wednesday’s Courier.