Communities edging towards parade talks

There are hopeful signs in the North of a potentially less tense marching season with community groups in west Belfast hoping to reach agreement on one contentious march.

Loyalists, who had been refusing to negotiate in a protest over alleged IRA activity, now say they will take part in proximity talks.

Protestant and Catholic community groups in west Belfast are edging towards talks that could lead to agreement about this year's 12th of July parade in the Whiterock area of the city.

Each year the Orange Order applies to march through the main peaceline and along a stretch of the Catholic Springfield Road sometimes leading to violence.

This year nationalist residents have put forward a five point plan but until recently there was no response as their loyalist counterparts would not hold talks in a protest over alleged IRA intelligence gathering.

The loyalists now say, however, they are willing to hold proximity talks which, while not face to face, are at least a step in the right direction.