The first parade of the Orange Order's marching season to pass along a section of the Garvaghy Road route was yesterday (Friday) given the green light.
The Parkmount Junior LOL will take to the streets of Portadown next Saturday for its annual march.
In the past ugly scenes have marred the parade, although last year the event passed off without major incident.
The Parades Commission has now ruled that the march can go ahead, with the same restrictions as last year.
The ruling places no restriction on the outward march of the junior lodge, but tightly controls the return parade which passes along part of the Garvaghy Road.
Each member is only permitted to be accompanied by one adult along the contentious part of the route – between Park Road and Castle Place on the Garvaghy Road.
The final march must also begin no later than 6pm and be completed by 6.30pm.
Last night Garvaghy Road residents spokesman Breandan MacCionnaith said nationalists living on the road were disappointed at the ruling.
"Our view, as we made clear to the commission, it that we don't believe the parade should have been permitted in the first place or in previous years" he said.
"They are going out of their way to parade along the lower half of the Garvaghy Road. They have ample opportunity to parade all day. There is no reason why they should march that 100-150 yard stretch where they are not wanted. It is not too much to ask."
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin assembly member Dara O'Hagan said the march caused "massive disruption" to daily life in the area.
"This is a bad decision for nationalists living on the Garvaghy Road. It defies logic and will increase tensions."
Meanwhile, up to 5,000 people travelled from across Northern Ireland to attend a special Orange cultural pageant at the Ballymena Showground in Co Antrim last night.
The event was organised to raise funds for Cancer Research Northern Ireland.
Organiser Billy Thompson said the evening was designed to demonstrate that "Orangeism is not just about parades and speeches".
