The County Grand Orange Lodge Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Argyll has submitted notification to Argyll and Bute Council of the procession, due to take place on Saturday, June 28 — the first weekend of the school’s summer holidays.

The Orange Order is the country’s oldest and largest Protestant Christian group in Scotland, and its annual Boyne Celebration is known as the ‘largest expression of Protestant culture, heritage, and freedom’ in Scotland.

According to the notice given to the council, organisers plan for 3,500 people to take part in the procession from all over Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Argyll, with nearly 40 bands accompanying it.

The Order expects a further 2-3,000 people to turn out on the town’s streets ‘in celebration’.

Alex McCraig, county secretary of the County Grand Orange Lodge Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Argyll, told the Advertiser: “There has not been a big procession like this in Helensburgh before.

“We have between 3,000 and 3,500 paraders and it could be double that with people on the streets. Helensburgh has good train links from Glasgow and surrounding areas so people can come down for the day.

“Shopkeepers will be rubbing their hands together because of the amount of people we will bring into the town – in Renfrew last year there were people on every road we walked down.” The County Grand Orange Lodge of Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Argyll is made up 12 districts and each district takes a turn to host the annual procession.

Helensburgh is part of District 53 — Argyll and the Isles — whilst last year’s parade was the turn of District 51 Renfrew. Next year the event will be held in District 56 in Irvine.

The large-scale procession is scheduled to begin at 11am from Helensburgh’s East End Public Park, and will parade along East King Street, West King Street, and Sutherland Street, before turning down Sutherland Street and heading along West Clyde Street, East Clyde Street, and up Charlotte Street back to East King Street and into East End Park.

When in the park, a dedication and psalm 23 will be spoken by William McCrae, of Northern Ireland, and prizes given out for the best band.

The procession will then leave East End Park at 2.45pm and parade along East King Street, down Sinclair Street, to the Pierhead car park.

Organisers have been in contact with the council’s road department and Police Scotland officers including Helensburgh’s Inspector Claire Miller in an effort to ‘minimise disruption’ to the town.

Mr McCraig added: “Although it is a large-scale procession, everything is going well.

“We are not looking to disrupt the town, we try to cause minimum disruption with maximum enjoyment for everyone.

“We have done our homework so we don’t affect the roadworks on Sinclair Street, Colquhoun Square, and further along East King Street.

“The parade can’t be stopped unless deemed against health and safety or public disorder and so far we haven’t came up against anything.

“If Helensburgh residents have a problem we will hold a public meeting and take any questions. We will listen to any objections and problems, we are very open although people don’t always think we are.

“The last thing we want is to upset the people of Helensburgh.” Additional police will be required to enure the safe running of the event, but Superintendent Malcolm MacCormick insists the resources will be made available.

He said: “Police Scotland is aware of the application to parade through Helensburgh, should Argyll and Bute Council grant permission for the parade, a policing plan will be put in place which will facilitate the procession and aim to minimise the disruption to the local community.

“The plan will undoubtedly necessitate an increased police presence in Helensburgh on that day.” The notification of an intention to hold a public procession by the Orange Lodge has been advertised at Scott Court House since March 28.

Residents have 28 days from this date to send in their comments to the council, either in person, at Scott Court House, or via email to stephen.doogan@argyll-bute.gov.uk.

If any objections are made, the notification has to be decided by the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing (PPSL) committee.

A council spokeswoman said no objections have been received to date.

Councillor Vivien Dance is encouraging residents to submit responses, she said: “A number of people have raised this with me and I have encouraged them to submit a response within the time scale and they should concentrate any comments they may have on Health and Safety issues as this is the only criteria on which objections will be validated.”