EQIA Orange Order Victims’ Day Service of Commemoration

Closes 19 Jun 2025

Opened 27 Mar 2025

Results expected 27 Aug 2025

Feedback expected 27 Aug 2025

Overview

Background  

The Council has received a request from the Bangor District Loyal Orange Lodge 18 (LOL18) to hold an Orange Victims’ Day service of commemoration at the Ward Park Cenotaph on Sunday 7th September 2025. This is a service to commemorate the lives of all Orangemen/Women lost during the Troubles, with a likelihood of between 50 and 100 people in attendance (primarily members of Bangor District LOL 18 and band).  

Section 10.2 in the Council’s Lands Policy states, ‘Permission granted under this policy to use Council land or property is without prejudice to any planning, building control, environmental or other legislative or regulatory requirements.’  

Under the statutory duties contained within Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, Ards and North Down Borough Council gave an undertaking to carry out an equality impact assessment (EQIA) on each policy or group of co-joined policies where screening had indicated that there may be a significant adverse impact in relation to one or more of the nine Section 75 categories. Screening has indicated that there may be the potential for adverse impact in relation to three of the nine Section 75 categories (religious belief, political opinion and ethnicity/national identity), and hence an EQIA has been undertaken. 

The Draft report can be accessed here Equality and Safeguarding - Ards and North Down Borough Council

This draft report has been made available as part of the Formal Consultation stage of the EQIA, and the Council would welcome any comments which you may have in terms of this request, along with the conduct of this EQIA in general. This will ensure that the Council can make an informed decision that helps to promote equality of opportunity, good relations, and diversity within the Borough. This step is considered crucial to ensure a thorough, well-informed and fair decision-making process.

 

Why your views matter

The Council is committed to ensuring it meets its equality of opportunity and good relations duties and responsibilities, as identified in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.  

The Council welcomes comments from anyone with an interest in the EQIA, with specific reference to its impact on people within one or more of the nine Section 75 categories (Religious belief; Political opinion; Racial or Ethnicity; Age; Marital status; Sexual orientation; Gender; Disability status; Dependancy status). 

Give us your views

Events

  • Public Meeting

    From 22 May 2025 at 19:00 to 22 May 2025 at 20:30

    A public meeting will take place at Bangor City Hall on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. If you have any accessibility requirements and wish to attend, please contact equalityanddisability@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or call 0300 013 3333.

  • Online Public Meeting

    From 27 May 2025 at 13:00 to 27 May 2025 at 14:30

    An on-line public meeting will also be held on Tuesday May 27th, 1.00 – 2.30pm. Should you wish to register to join the online meeting please email eqia@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk.

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Anyone from any background

Interests

  • Resident Consultation