The Parades Commission has issued a determination on the Whiterock parade due to take place this Saturday in West Belfast. It has opted to split the parade with up to 50 Orangemen going through the Workman Avenue gate and the rest of the parade through the old Mackies site as well as restrictions on the display of flags and emblems and playing music on part of the route. It is understood that talks between North and West Belfast Parades and Cultural Forum and the Springfield Concerned Residents Action Group (SCRAG) did reach a consensus on a range of issues but not a full agreement.
Full determination here, key parts below.The mosts significant parts of the determination are as follows:
“The Parades Commission’s determination is that the following conditions are placed on the organiser and participants in the parade by No 9 District LOL in Belfast on Saturday, 24 June 2006.
Only the District Officers of Whiterock District No 9 and office-bearers and members of Whiterock Temperance LOL 974 up to a total of 50 persons shall process the parade’s notified route in its entirety.
The remainder of those taking part in No. 9 District LOL parade, including accompanying bands, are prohibited from joining the Springfield Road at its junction with Workman Avenue. They shall instead proceed from Workman Avenue to Woodvale Avenue, and turn left from Woodvale Avenue on to the roadway through the Invest Northern Ireland site (formerly the Mackie’s complex). The parade shall join the Springfield Road by turning right at the junction of this roadway with the Springfield Road, and shall resume the remainder of its notified route from that point.
There shall be no colour parties of any type, or flags, clothes, instruments, badges or emblems displayed which could be seen as associated with any paramilitary organisation.
The District Officers of Whiterock District No 9 and office bearers and members of Whiterock Temperance LOL 974 may display only the following insignia on that section of the notified route between the junction of Workman Avenue and the Springfield Road, and the junction of the roadway through the Invest NI site and the Springfield Road: the bannerette of Whiterock District No 9; the banner of Whiterock Temperance LOL 974; the Union flag; and the Orange Standard.
The remaining participants in the parade may display only the following insignia on the section of the parade route from the point where the parade turns right on to the Springfield Road from the roadway through the Invest NI site to the junction of the Springfield Road and West Circular Road roundabout: the Union flag; the Orange Standard and two other standards; the flag of the 36th Ulster Division; and the flag of the 14th Royal Irish Rifles (YCV) relating to World War One. The flag of the 36th Ulster Division and the flag of the YCV must remain furled on this section of the route.
No banner, instrument or object referring to Brian Robinson shall be displayed in the parade between the point where the parade turns right on to the Springfield Road from the roadway through the Invest Northern Ireland site, and the junction of Springfield Road and West Circular Road roundabout.
Only hymn tunes shall be played on that section of the parade route from the point where the parade turns right on to the Springfield Road from the roadway through the Invest NI site to the junction of the Springfield Road and West Circular Road roundabout.
Supporters of the parade are prohibited from the section of the parade route between Woodvale Avenue and the junction of the Springfield Road and West Circular Road roundabout.
