Ashdown appeals for parade views

Paddy Ashdown today appealed for everyone in the North with an opinion on parading to contact him with their views.

Ashdown has been tasked by the Government with chairing the Strategic Review of Parading Body (SRPB) carrying out a review of parades and the regulations surrounding them.

In a series of advertisements he appealed for people with an interest to contact him to help the review body draw up a list of consultees who will be asked to make submissions or meet the body to put their views.

Ashdown said: “I think it is tremendously important that everyone in Northern Ireland has the opportunity to comment on what they would like to see from the strategic review.

“I haven’t arrived with any pre-cooked solutions or fixed ideas but I am certain that the solution will involve local consultation, accommodation and agreement within agreed guidelines.”

The deadline for responses to the advertisement is the end of June.

Ashdown added: “I am anxious that we are able to arrive at a place where the arrangements for parades in Northern Ireland are the same as one would expect from any other modern European democracy and we need the help of everyone in Northern Ireland to achieve that.

“I would ask anyone who feels that may be able to make a positive contribution to contact us.”

Currently anyone wanting to hold a parade has to get the green light from the government-appointed Parades Commission.

The commission was set up mainly to deal with contentious Orange Order parades - but even vintage car rallies have to get a certification allowing them to proceed.