Crumlin residents appeal for calm on Twelfth
CRUMLIN Residents’ Association have appealed for calm ahead of tomorrow’s Twelfth parade in the village.
Speaking ahead of the Orange Order parade, a spokesperson for Crumlin Residents’ Association called on those coming “to our village to be respectful and mindful of the residents in the town”.
“Residents within the town are quite rightly anxious at the vast numbers of participants, bands and supporters coming to Crumlin,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added: “Despite the Residents’ Association seeking to meet with the Orange Order to put across our concerns to date the Orange Order have still refused to engage in dialogue with this community.
“Dialogue does not hurt anyone, it can alleviate fears and help reach accommodation and mutual respect. The Orange Order have ignored this opportunity.
“We will continue to meet with the PSNI and other groups ahead of this parade to ensure that the rights and the safety of those who live in Crumlin are paramount.”
The parade has garnered opposition from many local residents and is the subject of restrictions following a Parades Commission ruling.
The South Antrim Combine parade, which involves 50 bands, and the seven districts of Lisburn, Hillsborough, Aghalee, Magheragall, Ballinderry, Derriaghy and Glenavy has been given permission to go ahead on the Twelfth morning without any restrictions.
However, when the parade leaves the field at 4pm part of the route will be restricted to just local bands.
The Commission ruled: “On its return route, the parade, other than those Lodges and notified accompanying bands making up the host Glenavy District, shall not process beyond the 30 mph speed limit signs located on the Ballytromery Road on the approach to Crumlin.
“The Glenavy District Lodges and accompanying notified bands of the Glenavy District may complete the return route as notified.”
Up to 400 Orangemen and their supporters gathered at Hillsborough Castle on Monday night to protest at the decision and to hand a letter of protest into a representative of the Secretary of State.
And yesterday, members of the Orange Order made the journey to Belfast to the Commission’s headquarters to voice their opposition to the determination which only allows one lodge to make the return journey.
The Parades Commission has confirmed that three local districts have applied to take an alternative route back home.
James Tinsley, from the Glenavy District Lodge, said: “We have tried to accommodate everybody but unfortunately the Parades Commission has put us in this position.”
He appealed “for calm and tolerance”.
After the meeting, the Parades Commission issued a statement.
It read: “The Commission met with local political representatives this afternoon to listen to their views relating to the determination on the return parade through Crumlin on 12th July.
“The Commission welcomed the engagement and expressed a view this would have been more helpful if local political leaders had responded to the opportunity offered to them to make representations in advance of the decision being taken.”
The statement continued saying that the watchdog “is always keen to listen to the views of political representatives and we have offered to further engage with the Councils and MLAs after the parade”.
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Weather for Antrim
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
