No march
A bid to hold a republican march in Rutherglen has been blocked.
A group called Independent Republican Bands Scotland wanted to parade this Saturday, August 6.
But Police Scotland objected due to concerns over resources at a meeting with the council yesterday (Tuesday).
A Republican march planned for this weekend will not go ahead after Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire councils refused consent for a public procession.
Independent Republican Bands Scotland (IRBS) submitted an application to both local authorities for permission to march between Castlemilk and Rutherglen on Saturday, August 6.
The march was planned to mark the introduction of internment in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
But both applications were thrown out after Police Scotland said the parade carried“a high risk to public safety”.
In a written objection submitted by the Greater Glasgow division, it stated: “In September 2014, there was a sizeable counter-demonstration in the Castlemilk area by individuals who attended near to the route armed with weapons and caused difficulty with the containment strategy deployed.
“Several arrests were made and disturbances continued in both the Castlemilk and Rutherglen area throughout the day.
“It is to be noted that in this and other processions by the Independent Republican Bands Scotland, there were no significant issues with the organiser.”
The police force also said four other marches and two premier league football matches were taking place on Saturday, arguing officers - including riot police - would have to be called in from across the country to safely monitor the event.
Glasgow City Council’s public processions committee voted yesterday, Tuesday, August 2, to grant permission for the march, but on Saturday, September 3.
Starting at Drakemire Drive at 10.45am, the procession would then follow Lainshaw Drive, Carmunock Road, Croftfoot Road, and proceed by consent into South Lanarkshire Council area.
A spokesman for the council said: “The committee recognises the organiser’s right to hold a public procession. In the interests of public safety, it has amended the date and route.”
But at a meeting of South Lanarkshire Council’s public processions panel on the same day, the newly proposed date was not put forward by the applicant.
A spokesman for the local authority confirmed councillors considered the original application for the August 6 date only. He said:“An order has been made to prohibit the public procession on 6 August 2016.”
Of the five processions held by IRBS in Greater Glasgow Division, trouble was only caused at the September 2014 parade in Castlemilk.