Cornwall Council seeks bilingual road signs in Cornish

Cornwall Council has formally requested permission from the Department for Transport to introduce the Cornish language on road signs throughout the region. The council aims to make highway signage bilingual, replacing signs gradually over time, similar to the approach already taken with street name signs.

The proposal follows the recognition of the Cornish language under Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which provides it with the same level of protection as other Celtic languages, such as Welsh. Councillor Dan Rogerson, the cabinet member for Transport, stated he has written to the Department for Transport to request the power to implement these changes.

Councillor Sarah Preece, the cabinet member for Culture, emphasized that the language is a vital part of the region's heritage and identity, noting that it is only fair to include Cornish on local signage.