No entry in town but band fights on

No entry in town but band fights on

5 August 2015

A DOWNPATRICK flute band has vowed to continue its attempts to secure permission to be allowed to parade into part of the town.

The Red Hand Defenders band held its annual parade on Monday night but bands were again prevented from walking further than the 30mph limit on the town’s Downpatrick Road. The band had asked for permission for bands to parade to Mount Crescent and The Mall but was again refused by the Parades Commission.

Instead, the host band was allowed to march to the War Memorial where a wreath was laid.

However, band officials say they are determined to continue their battle to walk into areas of Downpatrick they believe are Loyalist and supportive of their campaign.

A Parades Commission representative was in Downpatrick on Monday night and accompanied band secretary William Strain on a walk from the Belfast Road to English Street.

“We invited the Commission to walk with us along our proposed route and to have an informal chat,” explained Mr Strain. “Our long term goal is secure approval for bands attending our annual parade to march from the Belfast Road to English Street and back again.

“We are disappointed we have not yet secured permission to parade along our proposed route but will keep trying. We have been working hard on this issue and engaged with a number of local representatives in a bid to achieve our goal.”

Mr Strain said the Downpatrick band believes it has “done everything possible” in a bid to secure the green light to march along its preferred route.

“We have now had three representatives from the Parades Commission walk along the route and we hope this provides the organisation with an appreciation and understanding of the area.”

Mr Strain described the annual Downpatrick parade as a “peaceful event” and hopes the hard work band officials are putting in will pave the way for a change of heart by the Parades Commission.

He added: “We plan to remain positive and will not give up on our quest to be allowed to parade our intended route. We have not yet decided what we plan to do next year, but will sit down after tonight’s parade to decide. We are prepared to take steps to move the issue forward and hope that commitment will be rewarded.”

The leader of the Downpatrick flute band said it will do what it can to be allowed to parade from the Belfast Road to English Street via Mount Crescent and back to the assembly point.

Stephen Strain added: “We will continue to work with the Parades Commission, the PSNI and all politicians bar Sinn Fein as this party does not represent an area we very much believe we are entitled to parade along.

“This annual parade has passed off peacefully for many years and we are sure the vast majority of people who live along the suggested parade route have no objection to it going ahead.”