A GROUP within the Grand Orange Lodge is circulating a petition to call for a fresh meeting to approve new parading proposals.
Last month a meeting of the Orange Orders ruling council rejected new proposals to deal with contentious parades by 37 votes to 32.
Those lobbying for another meeting are criticising what they are describing as low attendance, and have said the decision is "unrepresentative".
Around 69 members attended out of a possible 300.
Under the rules of the Order, at least 50 signatures are required for a special meeting to be called.
However Ulster Unionist leadership contender and Grand Lodge delegate Tom Elliott is not supporting the petition and told the News Letter last night that he has "rarely" been at a meeting where there is "anything close to full attendance".
It was believed at the time that the leadership of the Order was disappointed at the outcome of the vote.
The Orders rejection of the proposals came after the first minister Peter Robinson and his deputy Martin McGuinness unveiled plans for a new system to replace the current Parades Commission in April.
The parades blueprint, including a new focus on encouraging dialogue, were drawn-up under the terms of the Hillsborough Castle Agreement brokered to stabilise the power-sharing government at Stormont.
Under the proposals, the existing Parades Commission would be replaced by two groups, one to administer parade applications or objections and to facilitate talks, while a second adjudicating body will make rulings where agreement cannot be found.
The Parades Commission has made a number of controversial decisions in recent months including re-routing an annual band parade in Rasharkin for the first time in its history as well as disallowing a Black Preceptory parade to pass the Short Strand area in east Belfast.
A member of Grand Lodge in support of recalling the meeting told the News Letter last night that he believes there is an element of anti-DUP in the vote.
"I think many Orangemen would welcome the decision being overturned," he said.
"The recent controversial decisions taken by the Parades Commission will certainly help people to see the need for an alternative.
"I think there are people there with genuine concerns, but there is an element of party politics, it was more anti-DUP, not anti legislation."
But Mr Elliott hit back: "The meeting in July was a fairly average turn out, I have never been at a Grand Lodge meeting that has been 100 per cent.
"I dont see what the huge complaint is if that was a decision of the meeting.
"Does this now mean that every time a decision is taken that people dont agree with, another meeting will be called to try and change it?"
After the July meeting, Grand Lodge put out a statement saying it plans to meet in the near future to discuss the issue of parading again as well as the code of conduct which is out for consultation until September.
A special meeting would have to take place before this meeting in September.
Article taken from the News Letter
