McDonald's has been given the green light for English-language digital screens at a Welsh drive-thru after a planning row initially demanded bilingual signs.
Gwynedd council refused the fast food chain permission for bigger signs at the Caernarfon restaurant last year because they didn't have any Welsh translations.
Planning requirements in the county say all public signs must be in English and Welsh.
But McDonald's hit back at the refusal and argued the site already included bilingual signs. The restaurant also included self-service ordering facilities in Welsh, they added.
"Within the McDonald's restaurant are facilities for customers to order their meals in a number of different languages on the self order kiosk and are proud that this has allowed members of the public to order in Welsh," the company said.
The row was over just one electronic sign, which would be English only, the council said. But they have now said McDonald's has offered enough background information to justify the lack of Welsh on its digital boards.
The new digital signs have been rolled out at branches across the UK to speed up service for drive-thru customers, with menus changing depending on the time of day and season. But the Caernarfon outlet had been unable to install the signs after proposals were turned down in November by officers.
The council’s original report noted that "no attempt had been made" to create bilingual signs, which went against planning policy. The policy states bilingual signs have "a very visible impact" on an area's linguistics character and help to maintain the "distinctive culture of Wales".
However after the resubmission, Gwynedd council said in a statement: "The latest application from the company includes a variety of signs which will be bilingual and one electronic sign which will be in English, the information on which can be amended regularly."
However Caernarfon town council and Welsh Language Society Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg have opposed the decision to grant permission.
"If McDonald's is serious about respecting the language and its Welsh speaking customers, it should provide full bilingual signage in all its stores and offer a full Welsh language service to customers," said Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn of Cymdeithas yr Iaith.
"McDonald's can more than afford to ensure that all its signs and machines are available in Welsh.
"The lack of Welsh in the private sector is a huge problem. We need stronger language rights and the Welsh language standards must be extended to the private sector.
"Technological development is not an excuse for a lack of visibility of the Welsh language anywhere, including in the private sector."
Gwynedd council has said it would help the multi-national business translate any additional signage.
