Rally against government cuts is set to change route

ORGANISERS of a massive rally against government cuts have agreed to change the route of the procession after fears it would cause "gridlock" in the city centre.

• The west end of Princes Street will be closed to traffic for the union rally

More than 5000 people from across Scotland are expected to converge on the Capital on October 23 for the Scottish Trade Union Congress' "There Is A Better Way" rally.

The rally will mean that no traffic will be allowed on the west end of Princes Street, with all buses and taxis being diverted during the midday march.

But an agreement has been reached with council chiefs to axe a section of the procession route that would have seen protesters continue on to Lothian Road before entering Princes Street Gardens after it had been warned that it would bring traffic to a standstill.

Ahead of a regulatory committee meeting yesterday, Scott Findlay, senior works officer in the council's roads services department, said: "The route, with the number of participants anticipated, would require the closure of two main north/south corridors and westbound traffic on Princes Street for about an hour.

"The march is proposed to start at 11.30am on a Saturday, which will coincide with the public transport provider's peak service times.

"It is the view of the City Wide Traffic Management Group that the remaining roads would not currently cope with the increased traffic, resulting in possible gridlock."

Around 20 buses from across Scotland will bring protesters to the march, which is against cuts from the Westminster coalition. Around 5000 people are expected to take part in the march, which will start outside the council's Waverley Court headquarters on East Market Street and finish at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens, where there will be a series of speakers.

Council officials had proposed that the route should avoid Princes Street entirely, but organisers objected to the proposals.

Dave Moxham, deputy general secretary of the STUC, said: "We are aware of at least two demonstrations which have recently been granted permission to use Princes Street.

"The 'Palestine march', held on a Saturday, attracted several thousand people, mustered on Princes Street, then marched up and down Princes Street. Even a conservative calculation would have the march occupying areas of Princes Street for a couple of hours and crossing most of the north/south traffic routes as it progressed.

"Our proposed march route would occupy Princes Street for a shorter time; we would estimate 30 minutes."

He added: "If we were to concede to a march which effectively removed marchers and our issue from the public eye, we would come in for significant criticism."

Councillor Colin Keir, convener of the regulatory committee, where an agreement was struck yesterday, said: "We were happy to work with the organisers and the police to reach a compromise that allows a peaceful march to take place while minimising disruption in the city centre."

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed it had no objection to any of the proposed routes.