A Belfast City Council committee has rejected a Sinn Fein attempt to erect dual language street signs along the entire length of Donegall Park Avenue, after a single-vote margin upheld the existing 'long street' policy that allows residents in different sections to have differing signage.

Under the council's policy, a street designated as a 'long street' may have Irish language signs only in those portions where surveys show sufficient local support. Donegall Park Avenue was classified as such last year with Sinn Fein's agreement, officials confirmed.

Survey results presented to the committee showed an overall 36% of respondents in favour of Irish signage across the street and 26% against, meeting the required 15% threshold. However, responses varied sharply by location: at the Antrim Road end, 64% supported the signs while 9% opposed them; at the Shore Road end, just 10% backed them and 57.5% rejected them. Intermediate sections showed a more mixed picture.

Sinn Fein group leader Ciaran Beattie argued that the street should not be treated as a long street and that signs should be installed on all sections, claiming there was overwhelming support in the survey returns. His proposal was seconded by the SDLP.

DUP representative Fred Cobain said imposing signs on the Shore Road section, where most residents are opposed, would amount to sectarianism. He noted that the lower end of the street is clearly distinct from the nationalist area.

After debate, the motion failed by 10 votes to nine, with the DUP, Alliance Party and Green Party combining to defeat it. Sinn Fein and the SDLP voted in favour.