The Parades Commission has upheld its decision not to allow Orangemen walk down the nationalist Garvaghy Road this Sunday despite new proposals from the Portadown lodge to engage with residents.
After a review the commission said it recognised significant developments had occurred over recent days, although it regretted the late submission of the Orangemen's proposals at 11.37 a.m. yesterday.
"We sense a new dynamic is emerging in the Portadown dispute. It is important now to bank the progress that has been made and to build on it in the coming months," a commission statement said.
The commission banned the Drumcree march for the fourth consecutive year on Monday but undertook a review and accepted further submissions at the request of local unionist councillors.
Two UUP Executive Ministers, Mr Michael McGimpsey and Sir Reg Empey, met the commission yesterday and announced that new proposals tabled by the Orangemen offered a "quantum leap forward" in the long-running dispute.
"We have reasons to believe those proposals are introducing a new dimension into this whole issue and I think that is important," said Sir Reg.
Mr McGimpsey said they were "imaginative and bold" steps forward. He stressed there were two cultures and traditions of equal value in the North and marginalising Orange culture could have a dangerous effect.
In a joint statement after the decision, the Ministers said they were "shocked and disappointed" by the outcome.
"To reject it after only four hours clearly demonstrated that the commission had its mind made up long before the Orange Order document arrived," they said.
The order's proposals outlined setting up a community forum in Craigavon in which Orangemen and residents would participate if they were first granted permission for a parade down the Garvaghy Road.
It is understood Orangemen would wish for engagement with the residents through a forum chairman. Mr David Jones, the spokesman for the Portadown lodge, said the offer of engagement was now "null and void" as no parade had been granted.
He claimed the commission only acknowledged the human rights of the nationalist community. "A lot of people are angry and distressed by the shoddy treatment the Parades Commission is administrating," he added.
Mr Breandan MacCionnaith, spokesman for the Garvaghy Road residents, asked why the Orangemen's proposal had not been tabled over 15 months of mediation chaired by the South African negotiator, Mr Brian Currin.
"Our position has always been that what is needed in Portadown is a local dialogue."
Ms Brid Rodgers, SDLP MLA for Upper Bann, said she was relieved by the decision. "I would hope that over the coming months the need for meaningful dialogue leading to an accommodation will be recognised by the Orange Order," she said.
In a statement last night the Orange Order said it was outraged by the decision. "We are absolutely staggered by the contempt the Parades Commission has shown us," it said. However, the statement stressed all loyalists should remain calm and act responsibly.
The Parades Commission yesterday also banned an Orange Order parade from proceeding down the Lower Ormeau Road in south Belfast on July 12th.