A decision allowing the repainting of Scripture texts on the seawall at Portstewart on the Causeway Coast may have ‘breached equality rules’, a diversity consultant told local councillors.
The words ‘THE SEA IS HIS AND HE MADE IT PSALMS 95:5’ ‘ETERNITY? YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN JOHN 3:7’ ‘CHRIST DIED FOR US ROMANS 5:8’ were repainted in 2018 following an individual’s request to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
Last May, the individual asked permission to repaint the text again. However, 21 complaints about the text had been received from members of the public, citing issues including equality and a negative impact on tourism.
Review of decision
When the 2018 request was considered, no equality screening was carried out. However, council officers took advice from diversity consultants in respect of the latest request, who said that ‘as a result of previously failing to conduct an equality screening on the request to repaint the Biblical script on the sea wall the council may be viewed as being in breach of its Equality Scheme’.
The council is now reviewing its 2018 decision to allow the repainting, and will be required to conduct a public consultation.
The request will then be considered at a full council meeting.
