Moray Council praised for backing road signs appeal

Save Banffshire name campaign hoping for support from other neighbours

By John Thomson

Published:

Supporters of efforts to keep alive the old county name of Banffshire have welcomed moves by Moray Council to put up road signs on the former boundaries.

The council has decided to spend up to £5,000 on signs after a plea by Banffshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Clare Russell.

She has been lobbying for them on the grounds that visitors would have an affinity with the traditional Banffshire area.

Other Banffshire backers have been calling for the name to survive following proposals by the Boundary Commission for a new Scottish electoral constituency stretching from Boddam to Buckie to be called Buchan Coast.

Old county supporters claim this would kill off the name Banffshire.

Hopes were expressed yesterday that Aberdeenshire Council would adopt a strategy similar to Moray Council at the road boundaries in its area.

Banff and Macduff Community Council chairman Ian Page said: “I am absolutely delighted at Moray Council’s decision.

“We took up this campaign because a member of the public raised it at one of our meetings.

“Our members fully endorsed the view that something should be done to keep the Banffshire name alive.

“I am confident that Aberdeenshire will follow suit, because it would look odd if there were signs at the Moray side of the old Banffshire and not at the Aberdeenshire side.”

Moray councillors were persuaded to act by the fact that tens of thousands of Scottish exiles are expected to return to their roots next year for a special homecoming event.

It is a Scottish Government initiative to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scottish bard, Robert Burns.

A spokesman for Moray Council said it was not yet known how many signs could be bought for £5,000.

“They will probably be placed on main roads and added to existing signs,” he said.

Banff councillor John Cox said he was “delighted” at Moray’s decision which he called “a positive move.”

He went on: “When I raised this with Aberdeenshire, the decision was to consult with Moray Council.

“I hope now the matter will be treated positively by Aberdeenshire Council.”

Mr Cox said many businesses used the name Banffshire on products which went all over the world.