This dream - or nightmare - was hotly debated by a panel of four on See Hear last Saturday and the impression left was that 'nightmare' is the most likely outcome.

A ghetto of any kind is repulsive to most people and modern deaf folk are in rebellion against the old notion of them as isolationists and underachievers who can't hold their own in the real world and need to be mollycoddled by society.

One panellist was of the opinion that such a place would end up as a freak show for visitors with the deaf occupants limited in access to further education and university and deprived of ordinary but essential features such as supermarkets, doctors' and dentists' surgeries, and even mundane things such as garages and car showrooms.

The suggestion that it would give deaf people of vision the opportunity to become entrepreneurs and create a rich class of deaf business folk raised only a laugh.

And how do you assess potential occupants? The word 'deaf' is difficult enough to define and there were guffaws when one man suggested that would-be house buyers bring a portfolio of sign ability when applying for residency.

A lot of head-shaking followed when the chairman asked the panel if they would want to live in such an environment? but 24/7 sign language is a great attraction to many deaf.

The positive aspects of such a place are freedom of communication and the loss of the frustration all deaf people experience in hearing society.

Unlike hearing folk, who can chat with neighbours and join local churches and clubs, deaf people need to spend a lot of time travelling to meeting places and this can be wearisome.

But what happens to hearing children of deaf parents? Only one deaf child in ten is born to deaf parents and the greater majority would be cut off from their hearing peers.

Growing up in such an artificial atmosphere, it might be difficult for them to integrate later in the hearing community and, like the deaf children of this proposed town, they would miss out on opportunities to learn from hearing culture.

One man suggested that the alleged back-stabbing and gossip that is an unfortunate part of the deaf community would mean that the reputation of all new residents to the town would precede them and it would be difficult to build a new circle of friends the way hearing folk do.

Can we not apply the same argument to the hearing world?

When my wife's aunt and uncle retired they decided to emigrate to America and took up residence in a new development in Florida described as being specially planned for elderly people and free of the crowds and bustle of ordinary towns. The apartments were built round a block of shops and cars were not needed.

They soon got tired of the artificial lifestyle. Seeing nothing but other old people everyday became wearisome and they missed the fun and variety young folk brought to life.

There were no mothers pushing prams and no boys riding bikes or kicking a ball around.

There was nothing to do but shop or sit in the sun and they soon become bored out of their minds.

From Belfast Telegraph