Capital asked for views on Gaelic

Bilingual signs have been introduced in the Highlands and the Western Isles

People in Edinburgh are to be asked how important they think it is to maintain Gaelic links in the capital.

Edinburgh City Council is to consult on a five-year plan into ways Gaelic could be made more visible across the city.

Views will be canvassed on bilingual road signs, Gaelic translations on council stationery and council signs.

It follows Bord Na Gaidhlig's instructions for the local authority to draw up plans to improve and promote Gaelic use.

The Scottish Government's Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 led to the formation of the group, Bord Na Gaidhlig.

'Legally obliged'

Jenny Dawe, Edinburgh City Council's leader, said: "The council has a statutory requirement to produce a Gaelic language plan for Edinburgh and an obligation to promote the language under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.

"We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh on how important, or otherwise, they feel maintaining the link to the country's national language is. Those views will inform the final report.

"The report clearly states that we are legally obliged to do this, that there is no budget proposed for the implementation of the plan and that any costs would have to be contained within existing budgets."