NATIONALIST residents at the centre of a parades dispute have been given permission to hold a protest outside St Patrick's Church, Belfast, today.
The Parades Commission gave Carrick Hill Concerned Residents Group the green light yesterday to hold the protest involving up to 150 people.
Residents will walk from different points around Carrick Hill to Clifton Street and St Patrick's where a short sit-down protest will
be held at around 5pm.
A support group from nearby new lodge and north Queen Street has been given the go-ahead for a similar event.
They will make their way from new lodge Road along north Queen Street to Clifton Street and St Patrick's.
Residents say the event has been organised to highlight concerns about what they describes as "inconsistent" Parades Commission decisions in the past. organisers also claimed there had been a "heavy-handed" PSnI security operation during loyal order parades in the area.
Meanwhile, Carrick Hill residents and supporters have also been given permission to hold separate protests during Friday's Twelfth of July parade through the district and past St Patrick's.
In a change to previous determinations, the number of protesters allowed to take part has been increased from 30 to 50 between Trinity Street and number 18 Carrick Hill, with the same number at a car park opposite St Patrick's.
The new lodge support group has also been granted permission for 50 people to hold a protest along Clifton Street close to the junction of north Queen Street.
Up to 21 bands taking part in the parade have been told to play only a single drumbeat while passing Carrick Hill and hymns while passing St Patrick's.
Tensions in the area have been high since Shankill Road-based Young Conway Volunteers was filmed walking in circles while playing the sectarian Famine Song on July 12 last year.