Anti G8 campaigners have condemned the decision to prevent them from marching past Gleneagles, where the world's most powerful men will be meeting in July. Rally organisers claim Tayside police are behaving in an undemocratic way and insist as many as 30,000 people will head for nearby Auchterarder anyway.

Last night, organisers of the march planned for Wednesday the sixth of July met with Tayside Police and Perth and Kinross Council to press their case to be allowed to walk past the gates of Gleneagles. Today they announced that that request had been turned down.

Protest Organiser Aamer Anwar said: "It's simply unacceptable in a democratic society. It's a recipe for disaster, it's a disaster for democracy. We do not believe in this country that we should be dictated to by a chief constable and by George Bush's security services."

Frances Curran MSP SSP member for West of Scotland said: "It's quite possible to make sure there is security inside there without stopping us from peacefully walking past the front of the hotel."

Tayside Police insist people will be allowed to protest come July but not right outside Gleneagles itself, instead they want protestors to come here, Auchterarder public park which is around half a mile from where the G8 leaders will be gathered.

Assistant Chief Constable Willie Bald from Tayside Police said: "It's not purely to do with traffic management. It does take account of the security arrangements that we need to put in place for the site and for the residents locally as well."

This morning, residents of Aucterarder were informed of road closures which will have a big impact on their lives. Main routes like the A9 and A822 will remain open, but the C467 and A823 which pass nearby Gleneagles will be closed to pedestrians and cars, except for local residents. Rights of way across Gleneagles golf course will also be closed, but other minor roads and nearby Gleneagles railway station are expected to be open as usual.

Protestors say they will now write to Tayside Police, urging a rethink on the march ban and say they could take their fight to the courts.