Orange orders lodge bids for major marches

Published on Tuesday 4 March 2008 09:17

TWO major Orange parades are set to be held in Edinburgh in May and June this year.

The Scottish Orange Order's county grand lodge of the east juvenile and junior section has submitted a bid to hold a procession on Saturday, May 31.

Around 1500 youngsters, accompanied by 16 bands, will march on a circular route from the Meadows, taking in George IV Bridge, Princes Street and Lauriston Place. There will be traffic restrictions on the route from midday until 1.30pm.

Separately, the John Knox District Lodge number five has also applied to the council to host a parade on Saturday, June 28.

Around 420 people, including three bands, plan to assemble in Academy Street, Leith, at 8.45am, and march up Leith Walk to North Bridge, George IV Bridge, and the Grassmarket.

The participants will then board coaches taking them to a bigger parade in Grangemouth.

They will return to the Capital at 4.30pm, assembling in East Market Street, before marching towards Princes Street, Lothian Road and King's Stables Road.

Police chiefs have no objections to either event. Both applications are due to be considered by the city council this Friday.