A summer march by thousands of Apprentice Boys of Derry through Perth city centre should be scrapped, according to a politician.
Pete Wishart MP said the May 25 procession of 3,200 people will put off tourists and create “divisiveness” in Perth at a vital time of the year for businesses.
Perth and Kinross Council licensing committee could prohibit the march when it meets.
Mr Wishart said: “The Festival of the Arts is on so it’s the worst possible time to bring something so divisive to the city a time when we are trying to attract tourists and make the best of the summer.”
Critics voiced similar fears over a march twice the size in 2010 which eventually passed peacefully, but that has not swayed Mr Wishart.
The City of Perth Campsie Club and Apprentice Boys of Derry have notified the council of its intention to march and organiser David Walters said months of talks have preceded the meeting.
He said: “I’m not surprised by Pete’s stance and the same things were said in 2010.”
“We have been consulting with the council and police for the last 15 to 18 months and the cooperation has been first class.
“I’ve spoken to hotels and B&Bs and restaurants and they are booked up so we are bringing a lot to the economy of Perth. The image of these parades from the 1980s and 90s is very different to the reality now.
“They are more a celebration of culture so I’m not surprised they have passed off peacefully across the UK.
“(The Perth march in) 2010 was a lesson for the pessimists. It was a fantastic day with thousands on the street and the reports afterwards, in the Press and from the police, were excellent.
“Everything has gone smoothly in the planning and I don’t see any reason why the notification meeting shouldn’t be just as smooth.”
The march is being held as part of the organisation’s annual Relief of Derry celebrations, commemorating the 1689 lifting of the siege of Londonderry.
Some 53 coaches will bring Apprentice Boys of Derry branch members from across the country to the muster point on the Lesser South Inch.
From there, they will take part in an hour-long procession along Tay Street, High Street, George Street, Mill Street, Scott Street, Marshall Place and back to the Inch.
There, they will hold a march-past and salute, to be taken by the group’s senior officers. The organisers say they will provide one marshal for every 10 expected participants.
A paper to be considered by councillors today states the notification was on Perth and Kinross Council’s website for six months and attracted no comments from the public.
The last march saw 120 police officers from across Tayside deployed in Perth but the force said yesterday it has not yet determined what presence will be needed this year.
A spokesman for Police Scotland, Tayside Division, said: “Currently, there is an ongoing process to identify what resources are required to manage the event.
“There will be an opportunity to utilise specialist units outwith Tayside Division should the need arise.”