PRESS RELEASE: SDCC Objects to Proposed Procession
Added at 11:09 on 16 April 2026
PRESS RELEASE
Stonehaven and District Community Council
16 April 2026
Stonehaven and District Community Council Objects to the Proposed Procession by the Orange Lodge (Commemorating the Battle of Boyne)
The community council voted unanimously at the meeting on the 14th of April to oppose the procession on the 27th of June that has been notified by the Dunnottar Martyrs Memorial Loyal Orange Lodge. The proposal is for a Saturday morning start, with 70 individuals coming from the Newmains Loyalists Flute Band from Wishaw, Lanarkshire, but there is no information on the number of people who will come to our town to follow the march, nor how long it would last, how many people would come to dispute it, with the potential for impacts and violence that comes from this.
This proposed procession, if permitted, would start at Baird Park, the day before the famous RW Thomson Memorial rally takes place (adjacent to Baird Park) which is normally set up the day before i.e., the same date as the proposed procession. Stonehaven town centre is normally a location with a vibrant, positive atmosphere at this time of the year, with shops, restaurants and cafes busy, the Land Train taking people to Dunnottar Castle from Market Square.
In 2024, a petition rejecting a notification at that time for a procession by the Orange Lodge was completed by thousands of people, with 4,026 of these coming from Stonehaven and the surrounding area. We understand that this refers to a different notification, however, the same views apply only two years later, and the SDCC hopes that Aberdeenshire Council can understand that carrying out new petitions every time a notification of this kind comes to light should not be required.
The Orange Lodge has claimed before that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) provides them with the right of freedom of assembly. However, this right is not absolute and must be balanced against the competing rights of others. Those who live, work, shop, trade and carry on business in the area of the proposed procession enjoy rights under Article 8 of the ECHR and Article 1 of the First Protocol to the ECHR. There are impacts to our community as demonstrated in the last, proposed procession in 2024, associated with mental health, wellbeing, a range of disruptions and risks of physical injury and persons suffering degrading verbal abuse, including the risks to members of our local community, including residents, businesses, the police and the participants in the procession. In terms of Article 3 of the ECHR all the groups mentioned have a right not to be treated in an inhuman or degrading fashion. The community council asks the Aberdeenshire Council to prohibit the proposed procession.
Aberdeenshire Council has asked that respondents providing comments on the procession do so under four headings, and the community council’s view in this respect is summarised below. The portal can be found here: Aberdeenshire Council Public Processions Portal
Disruption to the life of the community (incl. local businesses and traffic)
The proposed procession causes great concern, stress and disruption to members of the community, businesses, living and operating close to the route of the proposed march. This march brings with it a culture of sectarianism that is all too prevalent unfortunately in the west of Scotland, and fortunately much less so in the north east. It also has the potential for violence from followers and protestors. This is a peaceful town where community spirit is strong, and it is a significant tourist attraction which, on that particular weekend, will be going about its everyday business, welcoming those here to enjoy a day by the sea, and hosting the annual RW Thomson Memorial Rally. Martial drums and fifes celebrating a centuries-old battle, accompanied by potential shop closures, mass police presence, enforced road diversions and the possibility of serious disorder could hardly be more of a disruption to the life of this community. The town, culture, economy and reputation of Stonehaven, not to mention the psychological well-being of the vast majority of its business owners, residents and visitors, are threatened by this proposed event, and protecting us all must massively outweigh the right of this small organisation to express itself freely.
Public safety
There is not enough information in the notification to judge if the public safety has been properly considered (notwithstanding the fact that they must obviously be aware that there will be concerns about it). Saturday mornings in summer in Stonehaven are very busy, and safely managing a sequence of road closures along this route requires precise timings, careful planning and experienced stewarding. There is no sign of these in the notification. There is no indication of whether coaches will bring participants to the start point and how these are to be marshalled, and there is no indication how participants will leave the end point (which is at the side of a busy road outside town): again, if coaches are to be used, they will need to be marshalled carefully to avoid blocking the A92 or clashing with traffic for the castle.
Public order
The applicant must be very well aware of their reputation as a sectarian and potentially divisive organisation. This reputation means that groups will challenge their presence in the town on the day, as was threatened on the last occasion, and a very significant police operation will be required to maintain order.
Such an operation will impede residents and tourists going about their normal business on a Saturday morning in Stonehaven, creating more conflict and resentment. As was seen when this organisation met in Stonehaven in 2024, this is a situation that can spiral into verbal and physical confrontation very easily. We do not believe that a proportionate and yet effective public order operation could be conceived that would manage the situation.
Risk of damage to property
Given the threat to public order created, there is inevitably a risk of damage to property. When this organisation attempted to march in Stonehaven in 2024, many businesses were concerned enough to plan to board up windows (which is of course itself a form of damage to property): that assessment of risk will be repeated should this event go ahead.