Protecting Our Halls: CCTV Projects at Port Glasgow and Bridgeton
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Our Orange Halls are more than buildings, they are the meeting places of our Lodges, the homes of our Districts and an important part of the communities in which we operate.
Keeping these properties safe and secure is therefore an important responsibility for those who manage them.
Two halls, Port Glasgow Orange Hall and Bridgeton Orange Hall, have recently taken practical steps to strengthen security through the installation of new CCTV systems. Both projects were carried out by the same contractor, Test My Electrics, whose connection to the Institution also highlights the skills and expertise that exist within our own membership.
Port Glasgow Orange Hall
At Port Glasgow Orange Hall, an eight-camera CCTV system was installed following incidents of vandalism at the property.
The work was carried out on 19 June 2024 and took approximately eight hours. Bryan Stewart managed the project on behalf of the hall, working with Test My Electrics to deliver the installation.
The CCTV forms part of a wider programme of improvements at the hall, with Test My Electrics also carrying out electrical safety and compliance work, including an Electrical Installation Condition Report, fire safety checks, PAT testing, emergency lighting inspections, the installation of a new consumer unit and targeted electrical repairs.
The result is a hall that is not only better protected against vandalism, but also safer and better maintained.
Bridgeton Orange Hall
A similar security concern led Bridgeton Orange Hall to invest in CCTV.
The hall installed a new four-camera system on 22 April 2025, following an
incident in which someone had changed the hall's flag to a tricolour.
The five-hour installation was managed on behalf of the hall by Sandra McKenna and overseen with the Hall Board.
The new system provides additional security coverage around the building and gives those responsible for the hall greater visibility and reassurance.
While the circumstances behind the installation were different from those at Port Glasgow, the underlying need was the same: *protecting the hall and ensuring those responsible for it have the tools to respond when incidents occur.*
Supporting Our Own
Both projects were carried out by Test My Electrics, with Neil Claxton acting as the contractor's point of contact.
Importantly, Test My Electrics is not simply an external contractor. The company has strong links to the Institution, with three of its employees being members.
That makes these projects another good example of the value of the skills and
experience found within our own membership.
Where appropriate, halls and Districts should consider whether members or businesses within our wider Institution have the expertise required to undertake work on our properties.
Supporting one another in this way strengthens the Institution while ensuring our halls receive professional services from people who understand the importance of these buildings.
A Practical Investment
Security is an issue that every hall committee should consider.
Whether the concern is vandalism, unauthorised access, damage to property or simply having better oversight of the building, CCTV can provide an important additional layer of protection.
Both Port Glasgow and Bridgeton confirmed that other Orange halls would benefit from similar work, demonstrating that this is an issue that extends well beyond individual properties.
The experience of these two halls shows that taking action does not necessarily have to mean a major building project. A properly planned CCTV installation can be completed quickly while providing a valuable long-term security measure.
More Than Just CCTV
The work at these halls also demonstrates the importance of looking at the wider condition of our properties.
At Port Glasgow, the CCTV installation was delivered alongside electrical testing, compliance checks, remedial works and improvements to the electrical installation.
This approach helps ensure that investment in our halls is not simply about reacting to a problem, but about maintaining buildings that are safe, secure and fit for continued use.
Working Together to Protect Our Halls
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland's Property Committee continues to encourage Districts, Lodges and hall committees to consider the condition and security of their properties and to seek professional advice where necessary.
The projects at Port Glasgow and Bridgeton demonstrate what can be achieved when hall committees identify a need, take action and work with experienced contractors.
They also demonstrate something equally important: we have expertise within our own Institution that can help us look after the buildings we share.
If your hall has security concerns, electrical work requiring attention or a property project that needs professional advice, the experience of these two halls shows that help is available.
For further advice on property projects, contractor sourcing, insurance or statutory requirements, contact the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland Property Committee at property@gols.co.uk
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