Stonehaven stand-off between residents and Orange Order
A Sheriff will decide today whether Stonehaven’s bid to stop a 200-strong Orange Order march from parading through the streets tomorrow has been successful.
The Orange Order is appealing a decision by local councillors to prohibit the march, which is due to mark the opening of a new lodge in Stonehaven with a parade of around 200 members of the Pride of The Rock Flute Band from Dumbarton.
The Orange Order said it intended to hold a “peaceful andrespectful”procession.but therehasbeenstiffresistanceto theprospectoftheparade,with around 10,000 people signing a petition against the march that it claimed risked “poisoningourpeacefulenvironment”. About 100 formal objections were also submitted.
The town’s RNLI branch declined a donation of £850 from the Dumbarton group, and several bars and businesses have said they will close for part of the day if the march goes ahead. “We are just not a town that is used to flutes,” said Councillor Wendy Agnew, whose motion to Kincardine andmearnsareacommitteeto prohibit the parade was unanimouslysupportedbymembers.
Cllr Agnew (Conservative), who has represented Stonehaven since 2003, added: “I have never in my time as a councillor had so much anxiety in the town. We are a town that embraces all religion and we are not bigoted in any way. To me, they [the Orange Order] are sectarian. It is not fair on peaceful people in Stonehaven of all religions and all denominations. This is just not Stonehaven’s way.”
Theapplicationforthemarch was rejected on the grounds of undue strain on the police force, the impact on local businesses and the unease in the community over the event.
Ahead of the meeting, the Orange Order rejected a suggested condition the march should not play music within 100m either side of a place of worship on the route from Stonehaven Town Hall and Dunnottar Cemetery.
It also claimed a police request that it should apply for a temporary traffic regulation order went against article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which sets out the right to peaceful assembly.
Article 11 states “no restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are prescribed by lawandarenecessaryinademocratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others”.
William Henry, who has lodged the appeal at the sheriff court on behalf of Dunnottar Martyrs Memorial LOL 1685, the new lodge, said in a written submission to Aberdeenshire Council: “It is worth highlightingthattherehavebeenseveral casesbeforescottishcourtsfollowingdecisionstopreventseveral marches. These cases have madeitclearthatacouncilcannot prohibit a march due to the nature of the views promoted by the organisation or concern that it might promote religious intolerance or sectarianism.”
The new Stonehaven lodge will have around 40 members, according to reports.
I have never in my time as a councillor had so much anxiety in the town Cllr Wendy Agnew