First Orange Order March in North East Scotland in 25 Years Approved

Aberdeenshire Council has approved the first Orange Order march in the north east of Scotland in 25 years, despite over 500 concerns from residents. The parade will take place in Stonehaven with conditions, marking a rare event in the region.

Orange Order March Scheduled in North East Scotland After 25 Years

An Orange Order march is set to take place in the north east of Scotland for the first time in 25 years. Aberdeenshire Council has approved the parade in Stonehaven for Saturday morning, subject to conditions including a ban on music near places of worship.

The event is organised by the Dunnottar Martyrs Memorial Loyal Orange Lodge. Over 500 people expressed concerns regarding the march.

Orange Order processions, which commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, are common in other parts of Scotland but are rare in the north east. The last march in the area occurred in Aberdeen in 2001, when approximately 200 attendees were followed by protesters through the city centre. Prior to that, Aberdeen had not hosted an Orange Order parade for 14 years.

Community Concerns and Council Decision

Residents in Stonehaven voiced apprehensions about the upcoming event. Brian Menzies, representing the Stonehaven and District Community Council, stated:

"Residents were deeply worried and exasperated about the procession."

In contrast, David Walters, executive officer of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, assured councillors that the parade did not pose any threat.

An Aberdeenshire Council committee acknowledged that approving the march was a challenging decision. However, they concluded that risk factors such as public safety, potential disorder, property damage, and community disruption were not significant enough to prohibit the event.

Previous March Ban and Event Details

The procession is planned to commence at Stonehaven's Baird Park at 08:00, with organisers anticipating around 70 participants.

Two years prior, the Orange Lodge was prohibited from marching through Stonehaven to mark the opening of a new lodge. In March 2024, a sheriff dismissed an appeal by the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland against Aberdeenshire Council's decision to ban the march. The subsequent opening of the new Orange Lodge in the town proceeded without incident.