Airdrie is set for Orange March invasion

Jul 8 2009 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

MORE than 40,000 Orange Walk marchers and spectators are expected to flock to Airdrie this Saturday for the annual Boyne celebrations.

The County Grand Orange Lodge of Central Scotland’s annual celebrations are expected to attract up to 30,000 spectators, 11,000 marchers and 90 bands from all over Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The feeder parades will start at 7.30am throughout Lanarkshire with the district parades starting two hours later.

Airdrie is hosting the main parade, which will start at noon at Rawyards Park turning left onto Motherwell Street and then along Black Street, Aitken Street, Chapel Street, East High Street, High Street, Aitchison Street, Queen Victoria Street, Alexander Street, Stirling Street, Bank Street, Hallcraig Street, Baillies Lane, Graham Street, Clark Street, Motherwell Street to return to Rawyards Park where a rally will be held.

Reverend Stephen Dickinson, from Glenarm, Northern Ireland, is the main speaker at the rally which is expected to finish at 4pm.

Graham McKay, North Lanarkshire Council’s head of Roads and Transportation, said: “Traffic will only be permitted to travel in the opposite direction from the procession and parking will be prohibited in some instances from Friday afternoon and the morning prior to the event commencing along the length of the parade route and at junctions with adjoining roads.

“The restrictions will be removed as soon as practicable when the parade has passed.”

Chief Inspector John Fitzpatrick, of Coatbridge Police Office, told the Advertiser: “Through the very professional approach between both sides we expect that the work, which has been done in partnership, will pay off on the day and lead to trouble-free celebrations.”