Armagh Banbridge Craigavon Council has approved dual-language street signs for Corcrain Gardens and Ballyoran Hill in Portadown.

Residents in both streets met the two-thirds threshold required for bilingual signage. In Corcrain Gardens, 12 of 16 households responded in support. In Ballyoran Hill, 25 of 35 households responded in support.

Reformation Defenders RBP 1517, which meets at Corcrain Orange Hall, wrote to the council objecting to the signs. The group said the signs could make people feel intimidated or threatened and expressed concern that the area could lose its shared character.

The Worshipful Master of RBP 141 also objected, stating the signs were divisive and intended to make Protestants, unionists and loyalists feel unwelcome.

Corcrain Cultural and Development Association and Corcrain Purple Rocket LOL 339 raised similar objections.

Sinn Fein councillor Paul Duffy said the objections were based on intolerance and did not hold weight. DUP councillor Kyle Moutray said the objections reflected genuine concerns about potential tension in an area with an Orange hall that has existed for over a century.

The planning committee approved each application by seven votes to five on 6 May.