The organisers of an annual parade in Dunkeld marking a battle fought in its streets over 330 years ago are due to go before local councillors later this month to face down a number of objections raised by residents.
It is understood Perth and Kinross Council has received several objections to the latest planned Battle of Dunkeld Parade being held on August 22, and members of its licensing committee are now set to review them next Wednesday.
The 1689 conflict saw a garrison of government troops led by Colonel William Cleland despatched to Dunkeld to defend the town from thousands of Jacobites intent on removing King William of Orange from the British throne.
The District 65 Colonel Cleland Memorial Lodge has applied to hold parades in the town commemorating his success in holding back the Highlanders for a number of years now, and it is understood each procession has passed without incident.
However, the group was forced to argue for their right to hold its last parade in front of councillors back in 2019 after a number of objectors made claims the events were being “hijacked” by the Orange Order.
Local historian John Gilruth told councillors services held at Dunkeld Cathedral to mark anniversaries of the battle had once enjoyed support from the community but more recent processions seemed to some onlookers to be “a conspicuous celebration of Orangeism, with Orange regalia on display”.
He was quoted as saying at the time: “Culturally, Dunkeld is a town where religious and ethnic differences are of little consequence and where political difference does not divide. The religious differences of 1689 have been left there.”
The council’s licensing committee dismissed the objections in 2019 but is now set to consider a fresh set when it meets next Wednesday.
Local lodge secretary Graham Brown told the Perthshire Advertiser he believes the latest objections have more or less come from the same people who raised representations last time and betray a lack of knowledge about his group and the significance of the battle to them.
“We’ve been doing this for a long time now and it is always peaceful,” he said. “We’re not promoting division or anything like that - I suspect [the latest objectors] just don’t know what we’re all about.
“I think it’s a fitting commemoration - it’s almost like a historical reenactment. The Covenanters would have had a piper like we have and had an open air church service at the cathedral like we do.”
A PKC spokesperson confirmed: “Members of the public who have submitted objections to the Battle of Dunkeld Parade have been invited to attend a virtual meeting on Wednesday, August 18 when the notification of the procession from District 65 Colonel Cleland Memorial Lodge will be considered by the licensing committee.
“In terms of section 63 (8) of the Civic Government (Scotland ) Act 1982 permission by the licensing committee is not required to allow a procession to take place.
“The committee can only decide to prohibit or restrict a procession and when making this decision can only take into account objections insofar as they relate to public safety, public order, damage to property and disruption to the life of the community. The committee cannot prohibit a procession because members of the public consider the views of the participants to be controversial or because of the number of objections received.”
The spokesperson added: “The council has received confirmation from Police Scotland that in the interests of the safety of participants and other road users, police officers will facilitate this procession if it takes place as planned.”
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