A large nationalist protest is now likely on the lower Ormeau Road in south Belfast next Monday after the Parades Commission's decision to allow the Ballynafeigh District Lodge to walk through the area.
Residents stressed yesterday that any protest would be peaceful.
The Lower Ormeau Concerned Community (LOCC), which intends to challenge the commission's decision in the courts today, accused it of giving in to political pressure and breaking its own guidelines.
Spokesman Mr Gerard Rice said that no matter how the LOCC responded to the decision, "a massive policing operation" would be required to force the parade down the lower Ormeau Road.
"The LOCC could cop out, but we have a responsibility to show leadership to our community and to ensure that any protest is peaceful. As a community leader, I have to recognise the clear frustration that there is within this community. However, I must find a way of harnessing that between now and Monday to ensure this doesn't get out of control," Mr Rice said.
He ruled out the possibility of telling nationalists from other parts of Belfast to stay away from the protest.
"If only Orangemen who lived on the Ormeau Road walked down on Monday, I would ensure that only residents of the Ormeau Road were there to oppose it. But that cuts out 255 out of the 256 Orangemen in the Ballynafeigh lodge."
Monday's parade will be the first to go down the lower Ormeau Road this year. It has to pass through the area before 8.30 a.m. and no music can be played on that stretch of road.
The last march to be rerouted away from the area took place on June 28th, when the Parades Commission ruled that the conditions did not exist to allow the Orangemen through.
Mr Rice said he believed the Parades Commission had changed its ruling over the weekend as a result of the situation at Drumcree and pressure from the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, and the RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan.
He said a Parades Commission employee told him on Friday that its position on marches on the Ormeau Road had not changed from two weeks ago.
The commission, he said, had capitulated to the threat of violence and did not have any legal basis to make a connection between the Drumcree and Ormeau Road parades.
"Under the legislation, Alistair Graham's duty is not to carry out some form of balance. When a parade is filed for, he must measure it against the guidelines," Mr Rice said.
In the small, closely-packed streets of the Lower Ormeau yesterday evening, there was anger but little surprise at the decision.
"I knew they would give in. It's not fair on us. It means we'll be hemmed in again," said a young mother.
Seventeen-year-old Stephen Mulholland said he would like to see a peaceful protest next Monday. "The time of the day is not important. It's the principle. They think they can march whenever and wherever they want, and dictate to the government." A shopkeeper said she was "fed up with the whole thing", adding: "People have to talk to find a solution."
A new mural was unveiled at the weekend on Dromara Street next to the Ormeau Bridge. Beside a picture of the Belfast Agreement are printed the slogans "Let's make it work" and "The right to freedom from sectarian harassment - reroute sectarian marches".
This will be the first thing Orangemen see on Monday as they enter the area.