The press have reported that G8Alternatives have today (11th march) applied for permission to hold their demonstration on the first day of the G8 Summit - starting from Gleneagles train station, passing by Gleneagles hotel, to end with a rally in the park at Auchterarder (the local village). The reports say that they think approval will be given with some conditions attached.
The most comprehensive report comes from the Scottish TV Scotland Today website - the text is reproduced below for note. I cound't find any reference to the story on the G8Alternatives website. The text below is also the main transcript of the TV item - which can be viewed on the website in different formats:
http://scotlandtoday.scottishtv.co.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1_1_1&newsid=6992 Surprisingly the scottich tv website also provided a link to the
http://www.g8alternatives.org.uk website. ------------------------------
Plans for G8 protest revealed
11 March 2005 17:59
Campaigners have revealed plans for up to 20,000 protestors to demonstrate outside Gleneagles on the opening day of the G8 summit. A coalition of groups called G8 Alternatives has asked the local council for permission to march past the hotel as world leaders gather for three days of talks.
It was deserted today, but this July Gleneagles Railway Station could be the starting point for the largest demonstration in this part of Scotland in living memory. G8 Alternatives says up to 20,000 people will gather around the station on the first day of the summit at Gleneagles - and then set off for the hotel itself.
Gill Hubbard, the march organiser, said: "The whole purpose of us demonstrating is to show the G8 that we are opposed to their failure to solve some of the world's most serious problems... we definitely want them to hear us. That's why we have put in the application today to have the demonstration walking past the hotel."
The local council says it will do all it can to allow a peaceful protest.
Councillor Willie Wilson from Perth and Kinross Council said: "Very much so indeed. We're welcoming the summit and we also welcome peaceful, responsible protest."
The big problem is the route. A security cordon around Gleneagles will protect the leaders of the world's richest nations - and it looks like the road outside will be inside that ring of steel. The march would get nowhere near the politicians.
Relieving poverty in Africa will be a key theme of the summit. Today the Prime Ministers' Commission for Africa published its blueprint for helping the continent - plans which will be discussed at Gleneagles. With Tony Blair at his side, Bob Geldof did not mince his words.
He said: "Let me tell you about all the NGO arguments about strategies for Gleneagles. **** Gleneagles. Do you know how much it costs? One half stick of chewing gum for each citizen of the G7 countries. A half stick of chewing gum each a day."
The campaigners are hoping to end their march with a rally at Auchterader Public Park - turning a local football pitch into a political arena.
According to sources within the police and the council, the march is likely to get the go ahead but with conditions attached. The big question is how close will the demonstrators be allowed to get to George W Bush and his G8 colleagues.
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The story also featured on
http://northtonight.grampiantv.co.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1_1_1&newsid=6158 
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12.03.2005 11:51
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