14 August 2001

Minister praises bilingual map to help boost Welsh tourism

Ordnance Survey launches Welsh Language Scheme

Ordnance Survey has marked the launch of its Welsh Language Scheme with a brand new map to help boost tourism in Wales.

The scheme sets out the map maker's approach to equality between English and Welsh in its activities in Wales, and the new Touring map of Wales, with its bilingual place names, legend and cover, is just one of the initiatives outlined in it. Other projects include a dedicated Welsh language helpline – 08456 05 05 04 – to answer enquiries in Welsh, language training for staff working in Wales and a Welsh micro web site.

Launching the new scheme at the Welsh Assembly, Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language, Jenny Randerson AM, said: "This represents a significant commitment to furthering the Welsh language which is evident in Ordnance Survey's policies to improve both accuracy and the depiction of Welsh place names on its mapping.

"The new Touring map is an important contribution to the Welsh economy as well as the Welsh language."

Ordnance Survey's Director General and Chief Executive, Vanessa Lawrence, said: "We believe that Welsh speaking people should be able to receive a full range of our services in Welsh. This scheme gives them real choice in deciding which language to use when contacting us."

Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board, John Walter Jones, also praised Ordnance Survey for recognising the practical potentials of a Welsh language scheme. "Ordnance Survey have already taken their scheme beyond the bureaucratic exercise. The new maps, the bilingual web site, the helpline, the general desire to communicate effectively with the public bilingually indicates a very practical commitment to the use of the language," he said. "The most important part of these schemes are things like the Touring map of Wales that people can use bilingually."

Ordnance Survey hopes that the new Touring map will encourage visitors to rediscover the Welsh countryside, as footpaths and places of interest reopen in areas where foot and mouth restrictions have and are being relaxed.

The Welsh map is one of four new additions to the Touring map series launched last year. The series covers some of Britain's most popular holiday destinations and because they are at scales that make them especially clear and easy to read, they are ideal for those who are not regular map users.

As well as showing motorways, main roads and much of the tourist information you would expect from Ordnance Survey, Touring maps pinpoint many minor roads, popular beaches, non-motorway service stations, cycle routes, country pubs and public toilets.

The new Touring maps cost £3.95 each and are available from bookshops, tourist information centres, major booksellers, many other retail outlets and the Ordnance Survey web site www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure.

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