ALMOST 10,000 people have signed a petition against a march that is set to mark the opening of a new Orange Lodge in a Scottish town.
Hundreds of marchers are expected to participate in the Orange Walk in Aberdeenshire for the new Lodge opening in Stonehaven.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland has applied to use the town hall as a gathering point, with 200 people expected to take part.
The plans state marchers will then go from Stonehaven Town Hall in Allardice Street to the cemetery at Dunnottar Church on March 16 at 2pm.
It is also expected to go through Bridgefield, Dunnottary Avenue and Low Wood Road.
But nearly 10,000 locals have signed a petition in a bid to try and block the event.
The petition, which was launched online, describes the event as “deeply rooted in sectarianism” and calls for it to be stopped.
While a number of local businesses have threatened to close their shops on the day it is set to take place amid safety concerns.
And Stonehaven’s community council has said they will put up a “vigorous” fight on their behalf to stop it from going ahead.
The decision on whether or not the march should go ahead is set to be made tomorrow at Aberdeenshire Council’s latest Kincardine and Mearns area committee.
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Councillors will discuss if it will go ahead or not and if it does, then if it should proceed with any conditions or restrictions or not.
And according to The Press and Journal, Stonehaven District and Community Council has held emergency talks over the march proposals.
It is understood embers have been pulling together a case alongside locals with those opposed set to speak at the committee meeting tomorrow.
A community council spokesperson told the Press and Journal: “Stonehaven & District Community Council congratulates the community on its response to the proposed Orange Walk in Stonehaven.
“The Community Council will put up a vigorous fight against this proposed Orange Walk on behalf of the community.”
A spokesperson for The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland previously told the Scottish Sun: “The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland are delighted that a new Lodge will be opening in Stonehaven.
“Residents in Stonehaven and surrounding areas applied to open a new lodge last year to which The Grand Lodge of Scotland in session approved.
“Many of the Brethren who will be in this new lodge are current members and had been traveling from Stonehaven to other lodges in surrounding towns like Aberdeen, Forfar, Peterhead, and Perth and with significant interest from local people in Stonehaven it was agreed that those numbers warranted a new lodge opening in Stonehaven.
Police outline restrictions on Stoneheaven march
AROUND six buses are expected to bring participants to the town for the march.
Organisers have also said participants will be in “formal dress” and the march will be controlled by “fully briefed” Orange Institution marshalls in florescent vests.
However, officers have outlined restrictions on the music during the march.
Police previously said: “No music shall be played with 100m either side of a place of worship, irrespective of whether or not a service is in progress.
“Keeping of time by means of a single tap on a snare drum may be permitted.”
The force have also recommended organisers arrange a Temporary Traffic Restriction Order for road closures on the route throughout the procession.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the planned Orange Lodge march in Stonehaven on Saturday, 16 March, 2024.
“Our policing operation will be proportionate and focused on public safety, as well as working closely with partners to reduce disruption to the wider community.”
“As with most new lodges a parade to celebrate the opening has been arranged and notification provided to Aberdeenshire Council and Police Scotland.
“The Parade will also remember those many covenanters in Stonehaven who were tortured and murdered for their reformed faith and a wreath will be laid in remembrance of their sacrifice.
“On the petition everyone has a right to object that is one of the human rights we support, we also have the right to celebrate our culture in the way we like, under the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Unfortunately, the individual who set up the petition (who incidentally is from West Belfast), and the SNP MSP who has supported it, either don’t accept that or don’t know the law.
“The Facebook page ‘Stonehaven Chat’ has turned into a hatred page orchestrated by the petitioner and a few of his associates’ screenshots have already been handed into Police Scotland as Hate Crimes.”
Dunnottar Castle is featured in the logo for the new lodge location.
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They claim they are marching in memory of 167 people imprisoned there in 1685.
It will be part of District 65 and will be known as Dunnottar Martyres Memorial LOL 1685.
