RESIDENTS in Glengormley say they are "fearful" after the Orange Order revealed plans to march past nation-alist homes.
The 'United Orange Districts' parade is due to pass along the Antrim Road on the outskirts of north Belfast later this month.
The plans have raised tensions in an area that has frequently been a focus for sectarian conflict in the past.
The controversial march has been organised in support of protesting Orangemen in north Belfast, who have been banned by the Parades Commission from passing nationalist homes in Ardoyne, as well as Orangemen ordered not to march down the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh.
One worried resident last night said he believed the district was being singled out because it is perceived to be middle class.
"This is coming through to stoke up tensions and people I have been speaking to are fearful," he said.
The proposed route will see the march pass St Bernard's Church on Antrim Road.
It was badly damaged in a blaze believed to have been started by loyalists in June 2001.
The church was rebuilt and opened two years later at a cost of £1.5m.
Both St Bernard's and another nearby church, St Mary's on the Hill, have also been targeted numerous times by loyalists in recent years.
Although formerly a mainly unionist town, some parts of Glengormley are now predominantly nationalist.
The planned parade route will take it from the Ballyclare Road, through Glengormley town centre and along mainly nationalist stretches of the Antrim Road and O'Neill Road.
It will then make its way along Doagh Road to Cloughfern Protestant Hall for a rally.
As well as attacking churches in the area, loyalists have killed several people, both Catholic and Protestant, since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement was signed.
The most active paramilitary group in the area has been the south-east Antrim 'brigade' of the UDA, which broke away from the main group in 2007.
In January 2002 Catholic postman Daniel McColgan (20) was gunned down by the group as he arrived for work in Rathcoole.
Gerard Lawlor (18) was shot dead near the Antrim Road as he walked home after a night out in July 2002.
In August 2001 the UDA shot dead Protestant teenager Gavin Brett on the Hightown Road as he stood with a group of Catholic friends.
In April that year 49-year-old Trevor Lowry was beaten to death by loyalists who mistook him for a Catholic.
Loyalists have also held protests during Catholic Church-organised ceremonies at nearby Carmoney Cemetery in the past, while nation-alists expressed concern about the
placement of a loyalist arch in Glen-gormley town centre.
Up to eight bands are planning to take part in the planned parade on Wednesday April 29, which will involve up to 420 people.
They include Cloughfern Young Conquerors Flute Band.
In the past it has paid homage to murdered UDA leader John Gregg, a former member, who was gunned down by a faction led by Johnny Adair in 2003.
In December 2013 the band caused controversy by playing the The Sash while passing the nationalist Carrick Hill district of north Belfast during a Union flag protest parade.
Rathcoole Sons of Kai Flute Band also plans to take part in the march.
The use of the initials KAI by loyalists traditionally donate 'Kill all Irish', although a crest on the band's Facebook page states that it is a tribute to Kai Johansen, who played for Glasgow Rangers in the 1960s.
A spokesman for the Orange Order last night said: "The Glengormley parade has been organised locally to publicly show support and solidarity with Orange brethren at Ligoniel and Drumcree."
The Parades Commission will rule on the march later this month.