THE stand-off is continuing between Historic Environment Scotland and the All Under One Banner group over the public body’s ban on the pressure group’s proposed rally in Holyrood Park a week on Saturday.
As The National reported yesterday, the march element of the event has already been agreed and approved by the City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland – and will go ahead regardless. Council sources told The National that it would be difficult, but not impossible, to vary the route at this late stage.
Historic Environment Scotland has approved the use of Holyrood Park’s public streets for the march but says the rally segment which traditionally ends AUOB marches will have to go elsewhere as it is “political”.
Yes DIY: Holyrood Park refusal stuns AUOB march organisers
AUOB responded by pointing to the recent Processions event in Holyrood celebrating Suffragettes and to past events such as the huge miners’ strike rally in the park in 1984.
March organiser Gary Kelly accused HES of “discrimination” against AUOB which is a non-party political group. AUOB said: “We look forward to exercising our rights and continuing with our highly positive vibrant community rallies at Holyrood Park on October 6. It is in the best interests for the health and safety of the participants on the procession as well as the general public that a big enough section of flat ground is designated as the march dispersal point where we shall have a stage with speakers/entertainment and community stalls for our end-of-march rally.
“The march route that has been agreed in detail with the council and Police Scotland takes us to this part of the city. However, the Parliament grounds or the road network standing alone as rally points completely lack the capacity to receive anywhere between the massive crowds of 35-100,000K marchers now anticipated on the day.
“Therefore, the obvious and most common-sense choice is the public open and accessible section of land beyond the car park which is topographically perfect for our purposes and will ensure the health and safety, public order and participant enjoyment of the big day is guaranteed.”
READ MORE: Dundee AUOB march sees 16,000 take to the streets for independence
The pressure group continued: “Ultimately, the request for permission in such instances by AUOB is always a formal courtesy but not a legal obligation as we know our rights under international and domestic law to peacefully assemble and demonstrate, as we do.
“We will continue to engage with Historic Environment Scotland in the hope that they will see sense to avoid the ensuing PR disaster that is now whipping up in a storm around them. AUOB embodies the principle of self-determination for the Scottish people.”
In a statement, HES confirmed that it had “received an application from All Under One Banner for the use of Holyrood Park as part of their wider March for Independence event”.
It said: “We want to make it clear that the march will still continue as planned through the road network within the park between Horse Wynd through to Holyrood Gait. This has been facilitated by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) alongside Police Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council.
“However, we have not granted permission for the set-up of stalls, staging, branding and other static presence within Holyrood Park. As a non-departmental public body, HES must remain politically neutral at all times and we do not permit political events of any nature to take place within our properties in care.”
HES added AUOB had been “made aware” of its position when the matter was discussed by Edinburgh’s Events Planning and Operations Group (EPOG).”
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