Objections to planned parade

South Lanarkshire Council have confirmed they have received objections to a proposed Republican march in Rutherglen next week.

A group calling themselves the Independent Republican Bands Scotland have applied for the march which will go down Croftfoot Road, onto Mill Street, Roger Drive and the Main Street before dispersing in the Rutherglen Industrial Estate on Saturday, September 6. They say the parade will involve around 200 people.

The Reformer has been contacted by several readers concerned about the purpose of the march and the possibility of public disorder.

A council spokesperson was this week unable to confirm how many objections they had received or when a decision would be made.

But they said:“I can confirm that we have received a few objections and a number of complaints.

“The procedure for determining whether or not a march can or cannot go ahead can be dealt with either under delegated powers or at a hearing where the parties involved are invited to attend. The meeting would normally be held in private.”

Inspector Teri Flynn of the community policing team at Rutherglen Police, said they had made a “number of recommendations” to the council regarding the march.

She added: “Concerns or objections for any parade are highlighted to the council based on previous issues, their routes and ongoing intelligence.”