Anger over proposal to axe Glasgow parades
A PROPOSAL to slash the number of Loyal Order parades in Glasgow by up to 90 per cent has been condemned by unionist politicians and the Orange Order.
Glasgow deputy council leader James Coleman has proposed cutting the number of parades in the Scottish city during the course of the marching season from around 250 to 20. About 55 parades - including feeder walks - occur in the city during Battle of the Boyne celebrations on the first Saturday in July.
He also wants to redirect the remainder away from the city centre and put an end to return parades - amid concerns over policing costs and disruption to city streets.
The move came after it emerged policing of a Royal Black parade in Dumbarton two weeks ago cost around 108,000.
The Grand Orange Lodge in Scotland has accused the labour councillor of harbouring a "vendetta" against the Loyal Orders.
Robert McLean, Executive Officer for the Grand Orange Lodge in Scotland, said the institution "would not be bullied" by a councillor.
"There was no lead-up to this, it just came out of the blue," he said.
"We were extremely disappointed that Cllr Coleman chose to have this debate through the pages of a Glasgow newspaper instead of speaking to us directly.
"If he thinks we are going to curl up and go away he is mistaken - we have been parading in Glasgow for 180 years and we will not be bullied by a councillor."
Mr McLean added: "Over the weekend many of our members and supporters have got in touch with the councillors.
“I have spoken with the councillors and council officials and they do not know anything about a discussion on these proposals.
“We have made umpteen attempts to meet with the council to discuss parading in Glasgow, but they have not taken up this offer and now we have Mr Coleman making these proposals, without ever speaking to us.”
Drew Nelson, Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, backed his Scottish brethren and accused Glasgow council of acting contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.
“What Glasgow Council are doing there - using policing costs to restrict people’s right to parade - is in contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights,” he said.
“If they stop Orange brethren parading in the city centre, what is next, are they going to stop other types of parades too because they don’t agree with them?
“I believe it is politically motivated and that ultimately what they are trying to do will fail.”
Ulster Unionist parading spokesman Michael Copeland said the proposal “smacks of facism, communism and could be seen as a malicious vendetta”.
“No matter how it is dressed up, this nonsense proposal represents an attack not only on the Orangemen involved but all the city’s citizens,” said Mr Copeland.
DUP parading spokesman David Simpson said Glasgow Council was missing out on the potential success of parading being promoted as “a tourist product”.
“This year’s Twelfth parade in Belfast showed how business can be boosted if there is constructive and strategic co-operation,” he said.
“I would be willing to facilitate meetings for James Coleman and other officials from Glasgow with a number of bodies in Northern Ireland so that a proper conversation can take place and opportunities for tourism can be exploited.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said talk of a vendetta is “neither merited nor helpful”.
“The various organisations that hold processions in Glasgow are well aware that the city council is prepared to uphold their rights to parade and protest.
“However, we would hope they would also acknowledge that the best way to do that is to look at how we make these events sustainable within the context of a modern city.”
A council spokesperson added that there was no schedule in place to discuss Cllr Coleman’s proposal.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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