SIGNAGE in the Wee County will only be updated to include Gaelic text when replacements are needed anyway, with "minimal" costs for the council.

Councillors were seeking reassurance and clarity over Gaelic Language Plan costs when they met at Kilncraigs amid public concern on social media.

And elected members from across the political spectrum at Clackmannanshire Council also sought to highlight the importance of the language to Scotland's, and indeed the Wee County's very own, heritage.

Opening the questions in the Kilncraigs chamber, council leader Councillor Ellen Forson explained that since committee papers were published ahead of the Thursday, March 5, meeting, there was a perception that the council was "wasting money".

Officers explained that there is a "small level" of funding available from the Scottish Government, but spending in the existing budget is "proportional" to the number of speakers, which was recorded at 134 in the latest census in 2011.

It was also highlighted that proposals to update signage that demonstrates equal respect for both Gaelic and English was being done on a "managed basis", when signage needs to be replaced anyway.

Seeking clarity, SNP Cllr Craig Holden asked if that costs more and received a firm "no" as an answer.

In essence, it was made clear at the meeting that there would not be a massive rebranding campaign as a result of the plans, which were unanimously approved.

However, Cllr Holden also asked officers if they could give a clear figure on the costs for the Gaelic Language Plan 2020-2025 and was told this has not been quantified.

Later, Labour Cllr George Matchett agreed there was reassurance the costs would be "minimal, probably negligible", but said that the way to dispel myths and put the issue to bed was to come up with that figure.

Some expressed disappointment that plans to protect a language, which is a big part of Scottish heritage, would draw negativity.

Indeed, Cllr Helen Lewis, who rehearsed some Gaelic to propose the paper, reminisced how she used to hear more Gaelic voices when travelling to the Highlands and Skye in the past and it was disappointing to see the number of speakers drop..

Letting the number of speakers drop low "shouldn't have happened", she said, later adding that "we do need to do our part to protect it".

There was support from the Conservatives as well, group leader Cllr Martha Benny adding that "it's not going to cost a lot", indeed, she expressed hope that the number of speakers will increase in the future.

In her closing remarks, Cllr Helen Lewis said: "Suas leis a' Ghàidhlig!"