AN Orange Lodge's licence for an after-walk party has been approved amid concerns over children being exposed to bigotry, sectarianism and racism.

Licensing officer Paul Fair claimed that allowing young people to attend the Brother Kenneth Aitken Memorial, District 61 event would contravene licensing policy set to protect them.

Despite this councillors approved the license at Thursday's board meeting on the condition that the only children attending would be part of the flute band.

Councillor George Matchett said the young musicians should not be excluded from socialising at the event due to licensing objectives.

The Licensing Board's policy states that children should be allowed to attend family events however where an event relates to "advertised entertainment" such as a live band or sporting event, "the Board are of the view that it is inappropriate to allow children and young persons access".

Mr Fair said that throughout last year no children and young people had been allowed on licensed premises during similar events.

However Mr Matchett said, "If the children by their upbringing become members of a particular band - it doesn't matter what type of band it is - and move around with the band and participate with them, they are going to participate and come in the evening and socialise with the group. I don't have any difficulty with that.

"I fully understand the licensing officers concerns but while one sets policy, it is not something set in stone. A policy is a moving document and only there as a matter of guidance." An Orange Walk will take place from the West End Park in Alloa to Sauchie on Saturday 9 July.

The lodge had applied for a licence to hold a party afterwards in the Sauchie Hall but Mr Fair said he had concerns after receiving complaints about four events associated with the Orange Order held in the last year. The complaints ranged from drunkenness and noise to children unlawfully attending.

He added, "The standard of behaviour at this and similar events may decline to a socially unacceptable level of bigotry, sectarianism and racism, which in the presence of like minded adults may well be acceptable. It is not however for children and young persons to witness or be exposed to such behaviour, regardless of parental consent." It was the second time the orange lodge had applied for a license for the same event after withdrawing the application in March due to inaccuracies in the form. At that time it was lodge district secretary Ian Sommerville whom had applied and as previously reported in the Advertiser, he was revealed to have a Pakistani slur on his social networking Bebo page.

This time District Master William Rattray had applied on behalf of the lodge.

He said that the only young people present would be members of the Liverpool-based band, who would be supervised, and it would be unfair to exclude them.

Mr Rattray said, "No person under the age of 18 will be allowed to the event but these are band personnel. They will have been with the lodge all day taking part in parades in the morning, afternoon and evening. Is it right then that we exclude these young persons? I don't think that's right." Central Scotland Police recommended that only SIA licensed stewards should be used at the event but Mr Rattray urged the board not to implement this due to the additional cost - estimated at £100 per steward.

He said, "The main reason we choose to do the events ourselves is that it gives us a better opportunity financially to continue with the charitable work that we are involved with. This would be another piece of expenditure we would face." The licence was approved unanimously by the board with the condition that the only children attending the event would be band performers and that SIA licensed stewards be used.