Nationalists in Lisburn have said they will boycott the Lagan Valley Island Centre and its facilities if unionist councillors permanently erect a Union flag on the civic premises.
An equality impact assessment is currently being carried out, following a decision by unionist councillors last month to reinstate the flag outside Council buildings all year round. However, the same building comprises business and arts facilities, which are utilised by the general public.
Twinbrook woman Christine Bingham, who has completed photography and arts courses at Lagan Valley Island, said she would not return to the building if a Union flag was flying on the premises.
"It's a crying shame, because there are such good facilities there, and the tutors are second to none, but I would find it upsetting if there was a British flag flying outside. It would seriously put me off completing another course.
"When the news came out, I contacted the Council to voice my opposition to the decision, but the employee I spoke to had no idea that this was going to happen. It seems they weren't very quick to inform their staff, and I'd say when they did, their Catholic employees would have felt very concerned. This is a public building as well as the Council offices, so I really don't think it's a place for the segregation of communities through flags that they know are provocative to a large number of people."
Sinn Féin councillor Paul Butler said this week that many in the community have contacted him to express concern about the decision.
"Unionists need to understand that this will only alienate many within the Catholic community and dissuade them from having any association with Lisburn Council."
A Sinn Féin delegation will meet with the Equality Commission next week to discuss Lisburn Council's decision. Cllr Butler said that they will ask the Equality Commission to investigate Lisburn Council's compliance with its own equality scheme.
"The Council's decision has created a chill factor amongst the Catholic community in Lisburn, where many now see the Council as serving the interests of only one community," he said. "In particular we will call on the Commission to find out whether or not this new policy is in keeping with the Council's statutory obligation under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 for the Council to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and the desirability of promoting good relations."
Sinn Féin will also ask that the Council's fair employment record be looked at, as the policy of flying the Union flag may have an influence over the numbers of Catholics applying for jobs with Lisburn Council.
"Historically Lisburn Council have had a poor fair employment record and this decision will only discourage Catholics from seeking jobs with the council," said Cllr Butler.
He added that Sinn Féin has also met with solicitors about the matter and a legal challenge to the flags issue is being seriously considered.
Meanwhile community tensions are set to heighten in Finaghy area with the decision by unionists to raise Union flags at the crossroads as the marching season nears its climax.
Yesterday (Wednesday) loyalists revealed that Union flags will be hung from lampposts at the crossroads from July 1 in preparation for the Twelfth and will not be removed for the rest of the month. The move will be regarded by local nationalists as a provocative step considering that Finaghy crossroads is an interface area.
For over a year community workers from both sides were involved, with some success, in quelling sectarian clashes between local youths.
In light of this progress Sinn Féin decided not to erect posters near the crossroads during the May election.
Sinn Féin representative for Balmoral, Stiofán Long, was disappointed by the news of unionist plans to fly the Union Jacks at the flashpoint. "Any flags in the Finaghy Road area are most unwelcome as they are just a sectarian display and an attempt to mark territory.
"This is a neutral area, and a commercial area. We wish to see it remain a neutral area, which both sides of the community will be able to use. Therefore we call for no flags to go up."
The Sinn Féin representative says that it is not just community relations which will suffer from the inflammatory move, as businessmen will also lose out.
"This will heighten tension and people tend not to use the shops when there are flags hung in the area," he added.
