Time to designate areas?

| Readers 2

With the marching season now upon us I thought it might be worth discussing a solution to the parades issue rather than resolutely ignoring it, as seems to be the position of all the political parties.

The main cause of concern seems to be interface areas and traditional routes. Traditional routes are now faced with the dilemma of demographic change. Sinn Fein seems to be slightly muddled here. Some times it argues that parades should not be allowed through Catholic areas and other times it argues that parades should only be allowed in Protestant areas. Either way it seems to be endorsing a form of “designated” areas. Drumcree is the most high profile traditional parade route that has become controversial in recent years due to demographic change. However a number of other traditional routes are increasingly coming under the spotlight due to changes in the population. For instance, the Market Road in Ballymena now has “several Catholics” living in the street according to Sinn Fein. During a recent protest, over the erection of an Orange Arch in Glengormley, Sinn Fein councillor Briege Meehan said: “It is not appreciated down here anymore. There has been a big influx of nationalists into the Glengormley area and they do not appreciate it.”

Indian Reservations in the United States have been in the media recently, which made me wonder if something similar might prove to be a solution in Northern Ireland. Perhaps “Orange Reservations” are a little over the top but it might be worth considering some form of agreement formalising traditional marching routes. Once these routes were agreed and formalised, they would be set in stone. Some form of automatic notification to new or potential residents would also be necessary, thereby avoiding people unwittingly moving into a “designated area”. It is just a flitting thought that might be worth some further discussion…….

It might also be worth noting that an Irish Republican representative in Scotland has warned against restrictions being placed on parades.

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