Orange march heads for Dumbarton High Street

Jul 10 2009 by Marc McLean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

ONE of the largest Orange walks West Dunbartonshire has seen is being planned for next month.

At least 3000 people could be marching through Dumbarton High Street on Saturday, August 8, as 37 bands aim to descend on the town.

The large procession, complete with drums and flutes, would also be venturing through many more main areas around the town centre, including Westbridgend, Glasgow Road and Townend Road.

An application for the procession has been lodged with West Dunbartonshire Council by the ‘Provincial Grand Black Chapter of Scotland’ and a decision is to be taken by councillors at a special meeting of the licensing committee on Tuesday, July 21.

There are some concerns that the event could spark bigotry-fuelled violence and it is understood some Dumbarton community groups plan on making formal objections to the “sectarian” march.

The public are invited to have their say on the application and many issues will be taken into account before councillors take a decision on whether to approve or reject it.

A council spokeswoman said: “There are various factors which must be considered, including risk to public safety, risk to public order, risk of damage to property, competing events, policing issues, provision of adequate stewarding, proposed roadworks, risk of disruption to local business, the community or shoppers.

“If this application is approved, then this would be one of the largest processions in West Dunbartonshire since 1996.”

Every year there are between one and three processions by the local organisations and the Dumbarton Orange & Purple District No 27 held a march last Saturday.

Next month’s planned march is to commemorate the 320th anniversary since the ending of the Siege of Derry in Northern Ireland.

The siege ran from 1688-1689 and was part of the wider Williamite War waged between the Protestant William of Orange and the Catholic King James II.

The police insist they will put proper measures in place to deal with such a large scale event but are awaiting the council decision before assigning officers.

Police Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent John Thomson, said: “My priority in all such matters is the safety of the public and the maintenance of order.

“Strathclyde Police has considerable experience of policing these types of events and we are currently awaiting the decision of the local authority as to whether the march will go ahead and are currently developing appropriate contingencies.”

Anyone wishing to support or oppose the march must do so in writing by July 21 to: Andrew Fraser, Head of Legal & Administrative Services, Council Offices, Garshake Road, Dumbarton, G82 3PU.