Residents of the Springfield Road have described as "deeply disappointing" comments made by an Ulster Unionist politician yesterday (Wednesday), who claimed that dialogue with the nationalist community is "a waste of time".
Speaking to a Unionist news publication, Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain, who also sits on the North and West Belfast Parades Forum, told the newspaper that "entering into talks with nationalist residents was a waste of time" because "they don't want a Prod about the place"'.
Mr Cobain made his comments just days after the Orange Order lodged a second application with the Parades Commission to march the controversial Whiterock Parade along the nationalist Springfield Road on September 10. The Orange Order's first application for the Whiterock Parade this year was scheduled for June 25, but was postponed after a Parades Commission ruling that it would be re-routed away from the contentious Workman Avenue gates through the former Mackies site.
Ruling out dialogue with nationalist residents, Mr Cobain claimed that loyalists were becoming increasingly disheartened, and added, "There is no willingness for dialogue [by nationalists]."
But hitting back at the Ulster Unionist MLA, a spokesperson for the Springfield Road Residents' Association said he was saddened by the defeatist attitude of the North and West Belfast Parades Forum, adding that earlier talks with the forum had been productive and offered the only way forward for a peaceful resolution.
Calling for "meaningful dialogue" with the North and West Belfast Parades Forum the spokesperson said, "We believe that this is the only way forward. The Parades Commission's ruling to re-route the march was an ideal compromise, but the Orange Order's deliberate postponement and re-application has only added fuel to this smouldering fire.
"The Commission's original decision needs to be upheld."
And he continued: "The only way forward is to engage in dialogue and I would call on the North and West Belfast Parades Forum to meet with the residents' group to have this issue resolved as soon as possible."
