A DECISION on whether or not Dumbarton Orange and Purple District No.27 can play music before 9am during their Annual Boyne demonstration will be made tomorrow (Wednesday).

West Dunbartonshire Council’s licensing committee will meet on Wednesday June 14, to discuss whether or not to depart from the code of conduct which prohibits the playing of music before 9am.

Dumbarton Orange and Purple District have requested that The Pride of the Rock Flute Band play music at 8.45am, as the procession passes through Alexandria on the morning of Saturday, July 1.

The council’s code of conduct states “no band shall play or music shall be played before 9am and after 9pm.” The reason for this is to minimise disruption to local communities.

But council chiefs will be asked to deviate from this ban when they meet.

The Dumbarton Orange and Purple District asked for the same request in 2016 and it was granted, because representatives of the band said the early start was requested so they could make the West Group County Grand Orange Lodge parade at Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow at around 10am the same day.

The same request this year is from Mr William Giffen, of the orange and purple district, to allow the band to play as it marches through the town for the Annual Boyne celebration.

A report to go before members of the licensing committee says: "It is recommended that members consider the request from Mr William Giffen to allow the accompanying band, The Pride of the Rock Flute Band, to play music at 8.45 am as the Dumbarton Orange & Purple District No. 27 procession passes through Alexandria on the morning of Saturday 1 July 2017.

"The notice of proposal to hold a public procession and risk assessment was submitted by Mr William Giffen on behalf of the Dumbarton Orange & Purple District No. 27 on 22 May 2017.

"The reason for the procession, stated on the notice of proposal, is for the Annual Boyne Celebration.

"The notice of proposal was subsequently advertised on the Council's website on 23 May 2017.

"A precursory meeting was held on 26 May 2017 with the applicant and Police Scotland.

"No issues other than the request to deviate from the Council’s code of conduct were raised.

"Similar applications have been brought before the Licensing Committee in previous years and members have decided to grant the request from Dumbarton Orange and Purple No. 27 to allow the playing of music from 8.45 am."

Leven ward councillor Jim Bollan said: "I would be in favour of keeping the 9am watershed that is in place for playing live music by this and any other group seeking to march past residential/elderly care homes at that time in the morning.

"I think 9am strikes the right balance and should be maintained."

In Scotland, the Orange Order’s Annual Boyne celebrations are the country’s biggest expression of Protestant culture, heritage and freedom and normally take place on the first weekend in July.