The Parades Commission yesterday turned down a second application by the Portadown Orange men to parade down the Garvaghy Road.
The application had been made on Saturday afternoon while an Orange delegation made up of officials from Portadown district and County Armagh grand lodge was engaged in proximity talks with the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition. Residents' leaders denounced the move as an act of bad faith.
When asked yesterday why they had made the second application, the Portadown Orangemen's spokesman, Mr David Jones, would say only that they wanted the parade to go down the Garvaghy Road.
Official observers expressed amazement at the application and its timing, suggesting that it "had no logic, would up the ante and make the talks more difficult".
In its ruling yesterday morning, the Parades Commission noted that the application did not meet the legal requirement to give 28 days' notice of a parade.
The commission stated: "We have said repeatedly and consistently that the only way forward is by genuine engagement conducted in good faith between the parties. That remains our position and we would appeal yet again to everyone to talk, talk and talk some more until a resolution can be agreed, not only for Garvaghy Road, but for all contentious marches."