66% were in favor. 66%. Two householders on Stormont Park wrote to officials complaining about the rules for installing Irish language signs.
The council committee was deadlocked with nine votes in favor of Alliance's option, which involved approving four streets while excluding Stormont Park and Onslow Gardens, and nine votes in favor of Sinn Féin's option to approve all six streets. DUP committee chair Fred Cobain used his casting vote to support the Alliance option, preventing Irish language signs on Stormont Park and Onslow Gardens. Alliance councillor Jenna Maghie suggested approving four streets and excluding Stormont Park and Onslow Gardens from receiving Irish language signs, while Sinn Féin councillor Rois-Marie Donnelly insisted all six streets that met the 15% threshold should be approved.
The system for dual-language street signs has been a regular issue for Belfast's unionists since the council relaxed its conditions a couple of years ago. Since the rules were relaxed, more Irish language signs have been approved than in the previous 24 years under a stricter regime, and no signs in any language other than Irish have been approved under the current system. The process for installing Irish language signs can be initiated by a single resident of a street or a councillor representing the district.