Orange Order given permission to assemble and parade in Perth

May 14 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A CONTROVERSIAL order granting permission for a Orange walk through Perth City Centre next month was made by the licensing committee of Perth and Kinross yesterday – but only after a vote showed a 3-2 split.

The parade, described by the organisers as the ‘annual Boyne celebration’, is expected to bring in 9000 people or more to the city centre on Saturday, June 26 – up to 4000 Orange Order members who will parade through the city, plus their supporters and families.

The marchers will assemble on the South Inch in the morning before setting off on their short route at about noon.

They will process up Tay Street and pass along part of the High Street into George Street, Mill Street, Scott Street and Marshall Place, returning to the Lesser South Inch.

The Orangemen will be addressed by speakers on the Lesser South Inch and then disperse to their coaches waiting for them in Edinburgh Road.

A report to the committee described detailed negotiations between the organisers, Tayside Police, council officers and partner agencies, which resulted in a route significantly different to the one originally proposed by the Loyal Orange Institution of Scotland in response to concerns about disruption to city centre traffic and business.

Orange Order spokesman James MacLean, a past County Grand-Master, quoted articles from the European Human Rights Act which stated that peaceful public assembly was a fundamental right in a democratic society.

He said it was not members’ intentions to cause disruption or inconvenience, and explained that the event was coming to Perth as it was the turn of the Perth and District Lodge to host the annual parade.

Tayside Police representative Chief Superintendent Craig Suttie told the committee that he was satisfied with the arrangements.

He outlined policing arrangements for the day, involving more than 100 officers on duty – more than double the number of officers on duty for an Old Firm match at McDiarmid Park.

Issues of litter and alcohol were raised by the committee. Mr MacLean asserted “We are not litter bugs” and he gave the assurance that the area would be cleaned after the procession and assembly.

He went on to explain the organisation’s zero tolerance to both the consumption of alcohol at the event and anyone under the influence of alcohol taking part in the parade.

The committee went into a 15-minute deliberation in private, after which convener Peter Mulheron moved the granting of an order for the parade in line with Tayside Police recommendations, with the imposition of a raft of conditions on timing, route, litter disposal, marshalling and stewarding.

He was seconded by Cllr Bob Ellis.

Cllr Heather Stewart called for an order prohibiting the procession.

“I am concerned on public safety issues, not for the march but for the public safety of more than 9000 people in the city centre,” she said.

Seconder was Cllr Dennis Melloy who said: “I also have concerns with the amount of people in the confines of our small city.”

Cllr John Flynn settled the issue by raising his hand in favour of granting the order.

l ATTENDING the meeting but unable to address the licensing committee were four opponents to the June 26 Orange processions, including city centre resident Paul Houston.

After the decision he branded the event as “having no merit here in Perth”, and accused Perth and Kinross Council of “really letting down the local community”.

“I remember the last time there was a big Orange parade in Perth in 1988,” he said yesterday.

“I was 12-years-old and I remember being terrified. People were urinating in the streets, inciting others to fight, singing songs and being intimidating, and the whole thing went on for hours after the parade finished.

“Perth city centre is not the right place for this sort of thing. There will be disruption and Perth will be wrecked.”