Devon ban on apostrophes U-turn? (From Mid Devon Star)

Devon ban on apostrophes U-turn?

9:18am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News

A ban on apostrophes in road signs may be reversed after the leader of Mid Devon District Council saidf the decision would be reviewed

Peter Hare-Scott, leader , who said he was "not happy" about the decision has added that he will call for the decision is reversed.

The scrapping of apostrophes had been taken to "avoid potential confusion", according to the council, despite the fact that apostrophes are used to avoid confusion.

 

A debate over whether to remove the grammatical symbol altogether will be held at the council’s upcoming cabinet meeting on March 28.

The proposed policy has been widely criticised by champions of correct grammar.

Former culture secretary and Labour MP for Exeter Ben Bradshaw condemned the plans on Twitter when he wrote “Tory Mid Devon Council bans the apostrophe to ‘avoid confusion’.

Whole point of apostrophes is avoid confusion!”

Steve Jenner from the Plain English Campaign added: "This is a ridiculous proposal. How can anyone claim they want to reduce the potential for confusion by selectively ignoring parts of our language they may feel are inconvenient?

"It may not be the council's intention but this is dumbing down in action. We call upon Mid Devon District Council to reject this proposal at the earliest opportunity.' Only three official street names in Mid Devon currently contain apostrophes, including Beck's Square and Blundell's Avenue in Tiverton, and St George's Well in Cullompton.

 

Cllr Hare-Scott said “The convention not to use apostrophes when naming new streets has been in place since long before this administration took over.

"Personally I’m not happy about using English that’s incorrect and don’t find this acceptable.

"We are reviewing the situation and I shall be recommending to cabinet on 28 March that they amend the policy so that street names may indeed in future have apostrophes”.