Katy Gordon

Katy joined thousands of people from across Scotland at the Wave climate change march on Saturday December 5th. There was a great Lib Dem turnout, including Robert Brown MSP for Glasgow, George Lyon MEP, and Alison McInnes MSP, the Lib Dem spokesperson on Climate Change in Holyrood. Katy said:

“It’s great that so many Liberal Democrats have joined the march today. There’s clearly a huge amount of will here in Glasgow to support the climate change talks in Copenhagen in achieving a deal.”

You can see more from the Wave on YouTube:

And have a look at Stephen Glenn’s blog for another Lib Dem perspective on the march.

Alistair Carmichael MP joined Katy for a day knocking on doors in Wyndford to speak to residents about their concerns.

Alistair said:

‘I’m back here for the first time in twenty years, and what I’m finding is a quite remarkable change… people here are ready to listen to the Liberal Democrats, and give them their support. I think the difference is that people here feel enormously let down by the Labour party… They’re not going to be taken for granted, their vote isn’t going to be in the box for the Labour party next time.’

You can watch the full interview with Alistair and Katy here:

Katy and Alastair Carmichael, MP for Orkney, visited Hillhead School on Sunday to view the plans for developing Otago Lane.  The proposals would create around 163 flats, in blocks varying from 7 to 9 stories, overshadowing the existing mews homes and businesses, radically altering the character of a much loved West End lane and adding to pressures on parking, traffic and amenities in an already densely populated area.

Alastair, who was a student in Glasgow in the 1980s and remembers the lane well as a student haunt, said:

“Like many people, I knew Otago Lane many years ago as a student. It is a truly unique part of the West End which, if lost, will be gone forever. What is needed is proper, meaningful consultation which listens to the local community and acts on what it hears. I’m concerned that we’ve not had that yet, and no decision should be taken until the community has had its say.”

Katy added:

“The closing date for the consultation on these plans is 7th December.  Please join the thousands who have already registered a protest on the campaign website, where you will be kept updated on any future public consultation sessions.  I did suggest to the the consultation team that they should display the plans in Hillhead Library (or somewhere equally accessible) so people have an ongoing chance to register their views but there are currently no firm plans to do so, despite hugh local concerns over the proposals.  But you could contact them direct at www.streets-uk.com or by calling streets-uk on 0141 331 5323.”