AN ORANGE walk will parade through Dunfermline High Street on Saturday less than an hour before hundreds of kids process through town for the Children’s Gala. 

Fife Council confirmed the Loyal Orange Lodge District 45 has also been given permission to march through the town on Saturday morning. 

Councillor Helen Law, the chair of the City of Dunfermline area committee, confirmed: “The road closures cover both routes but I’ve been assured the first parade will be gone before the other parade starts.”

Gala day is one of the biggest in the town’s calendar with thousands of people lining the streets to watch the children march to Pittencrieff Park.

Asked why another event, on the same morning and using many of the same routes, was approved, Cllr Law said: “I really can’t answer that.

"People do tend to put in for parades many months in advance. I don't know whose application was in first but we do know the gala is usually the last Saturday in June.  

"I can only say that the council’s transportation people and the police are satisfied both parades can take place.” 

She added: "Fife Council are confident there will be no conflict. The first march will be up the High Street and down New Row and gone before the kids start their parade. 

"It will be managed but I agree it is a bit strange both parades have managed to land on the same morning on the same day. I don't know if it's happened before."

The orange walk has taken place on gala day before but the timings haven’t been as close as this.

A council notice about road closures for the orange walk covers 10.15am to 10.45am, just 15 minutes before the gala parade is due to begin, but it’s understood it will start at 9.30am and take around 40 minutes.

Up to 150 loyalists are expected to gather at the gates at the bottom of the Glen, at West Nethertown Street, before marching up Moodie Street and stopping to lay a wreath at the war memorial in Monastery Street. 

They'll then walk past Dunfermline Abbey, along Kirkgate and turn right on to High Street before marching down New Row to Comely Park. 

Inspector Ian Flynn, from Police Scotland, said: “The orange walk will be over and they’ll be away from the town centre by 10.15am. 

“A separate police plan will then begin for the children’s gala.”