Orange walk banned by Scots town could still go ahead this weekend as lodge fights council

A CONTROVERSIAL Orange Walk that was banned by a Scottish council could still go ahead this weekend.

Around 200 people are expected to make their way to the Aberdeenshire town to mark the launch of the new Orange branch on Saturday, March 16.

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The Orange Lodge previously submitted an application to the local authority to hold a parade from Stonehaven town hall to Dunnottar Castle on the same day as the new branch opening.

But the group said the point of its march is to commemorate the covenanting martyrs who were imprisoned and died in Dunnottar Castle.

Over 10,000 locals then launched a petition to try and block the event which described it as being “deeply rooted in sectarianism”.

Local businesses also said they would shut their shops on the day due to safety concerns.

At the Kincardine and Mearns area committee on Tuesday last week, councillors unanimously agreed to block the march on the grounds of disruption to the local community and strain on the police force.

But The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland has now launched an appeal to overturn the decision.

The appeal is due to be heard at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday.

If it is successful, then the axed march could go ahead the following day.

The Orange Lodge also said that they still plan to open the new Stonehaven branch on Friday despite the march being cancelled.

Executive Officer of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, David Walters said: “The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland are hopeful that our appeal to the Sherrif Court will be successful, and that new lodge Dunnottar Martyrs Lodge 1685 will be able to have a peaceful procession to celebrate the opening of their new lodge and remember the covenanting martyrs who were imprisoned and died in Dunnottar Castle.”

Last week, the Orange Order said they “totally reject the council’s premise” in a furious statement after the decision was made to axe the walk.

They added: “Our organisation intends to hold a peaceful and respectful procession which will pass by any given point in under 5 minutes.

“There is no threat whatsoever to public order from the Orange Lodge members within the procession.

“Indeed, the only threat to public disorder appears to be originating from certain people who are making this very assertion.”

Councillor Wendy Agnew also said that she fears that, with bus loads of people still expected to descend on the town, local businesses might shut for the day.

She added: “It could be like a ghost town.

“It appears to be that they are going to please themselves whatever, and that’s not really right in this day and age.

“Nobody has a right to disrupt the town.”

Aberdeenshire Council has been approached for comment.