Election candidate blasts councillors for backing Gourock Orange walk

A FORMER Gourock councillor has slammed current elected members over their decision to back a massive Orange parade through the town tomorrow that is set to cause 'major disruption' to the community.

Chris McEleny, who served the area for a decade and is standing as the Alba Party's Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West candidate in next week's general election, has accused the local authority of displaying 'gross levels of weakness' in permitting the 3,000-strong procession to go ahead on Saturday.

Organisers the County Grand Lodge of Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Argyll unveiled plans for the event earlier this year, prompting more than 40 public objections.

A Police Scotland representative told a recent meeting of the council's general purposes board that the gathering - featuring around 30 flute bands - will cause 'major disruption' on what will be the first day of the school summer holidays, with several road closures in place as the walk passes through the area.

Mr McEleny claimed councillors have 'ran scared of making the right decision' after they opted not to impose any restrictions or changes to the route.

The MP hopeful said: "When I was an elected councillor for 10 years people always urged me to oppose Orange marches.

READ MORE: Orange Order parade in Gourock to go ahead after approval from councillors

"However, I didn’t do that as I am a fundamental believer in freedom of speech and the right for people to assemble and express views even if others do not agree with them.

"On the wider theme of banning Orange marches I believe these are decisions that society will over time come to its own view on as opposed to creating flashpoints in communities that have ingrained traditions that will not change overnight.

“But the decision to grant permission to this march is utterly disappointing and reeks of councillors unable to put the people of Inverclyde first."

The parade will start at Battery Park and proceed along Eldon Street, Cardwell Road, Broomberry Drive, Barrhill Road, St John’s Road, Shore Street and Chapel Street, before heading back along Cardwell Road and Eldon Street and finishing at Battery Park.

Police Scotland said they had no objections to the event, while James MacLean, grand treasurer of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, said the organisation 'vehemently denied' the majority of the 'utterly preposterous and defamatory' statements submitted by objectors.

Mr McEleny added: “For a large part of the day businesses will have no customers.

"People will be unable to access services such as their local pharmacy to collect a prescription. Blue light services will be delayed if required, and on our Fair Saturday the people that actually live in Inverclyde will be unable to use the Battery Park because thousands from out of town will have taken over it.

“People in Inverclyde deserve better than a council that refuse to make the tough decisions and instead opt for the easy way out.”

Responding to this month's decision, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland reassured 'citizens of Greenock and Gourock that they have absolutely nothing to fear of our peaceful and respectful procession'.