MPs, MSPs and delegates at last weekend’s Liberal Democrat Scottish Conference have backed the local community’s fight to save the lane.

Alistair Carmichael MP, Charles Kennedy MP and Hugh O’Donnell MSP have already been to the lane in person to give their support, as well as Scottish Lib Dem Leader Tavish Scott.

Alistair Carmichael MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, said:

“Over 20 years ago, when I was a student at Glasgow University, I spent countless enjoyable hours browsing through the treasures of Voltair and Rousseau bookshop in Otago Lane. I well understand the outrage of local residents at the threat to this iconic West End lane posed by such an inappropriate development. Glasgow City Council should act to support character of the West End by refusing planning permission for this development rather than contributing to the destruction of what makes this part of the City special.”

Alison McInnes MSP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Local Government, said:

“I congratulate Katy Gordon and the Save Otago Lane campaigners for their sterling efforts to protect a unique part of Glasgow’s West End. The planning reform Liberal Democrats introduced when we were in govenrment in Holyrood was specifically designed to give greater weight to the local plan, such as the council’s Glasgow City Plan, and a greater weight to community opinion.

It’s clear that the local community doesn’t want this overdevelopment and wants Glasgow City Council to stick to the principles set out in its own City Plan. The council and the developers must listen to what local people are telling them and abandon this overdevelopment.”

In the understatement of the year, the sitting MP  ‘expects real challenge from the Liberal Democrats’.

Katy joined several hundred protesters in planting a flag in the area of the Botanic Gardens under threat of redevelopment if the plan to build a nightclub on the site by G1 Group goes ahead. While there have been indications in the press recently that G1 Group may abandon their plans for such a development, nothing is yet certain. So the Save our Botanics campaign organised today’s event to remind local residents and the media of the strength of opposition to the plans. Katy said:

I was very happy to stake my claim to this site as belonging to the people of Glasgow. The Botanics are an academic botanical institution with an international reputation and it would not be appropriate for a nightclub or any other large scale facility to be built on this site. Our Liberal Democrat councillors have been working hard to persuade the Labour council to recognise the strength of feeling on this issue and we are hopeful that this is bearing fruit. Glaswegians have given an emphatic thumbs down to the plans. What we need is a proper consultation on what should be done with the site (as should have happened in the first place) before any further moves are made to alter the current state of the area.

Local campaigner Katy Gordon was delighted to hear today that Kelvindale Post Office has been saved from closure.

Post Office Ltd is announcing on Wednesday which of the 44 Post Offices in Glasgow threatened with closure had been saved, following the end of the consultation period on 3rd Dec 07.

Over the past few weeks, Katy has worked closely with Mr Mohammad, Postmaster of Kelvindale Post Office in a high profile campaign against closure. She received over 750 responses for her Kelvindale petition, spoke out against closure at the Community Council, held a timed walk with elderly residents and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen from Kelvindale to Anniesland Post Office which attracted press coverage and was praised in the House of Commons for the effectiveness of her campaigning.

Commenting on reports in today’s Glasgow Herald, Katy said:

“It is fantastic news that Kelvindale Post Office has been saved from closure. This shows what can be achieved when a whole community comes together to take action. We should be encouraging more post offices like this to succeed, rather than threatening them with closure.

Kelvindale and others like it provide a crucial service to the local community, particularly the elderly, which is why so many residents supported our campaign. Labour have stripped government business from the post office at every opportunity but still Kelvindale has survived and prospered.

I hope that in future the Post Office Ltd will be allowed to concentrate on strengthening the network and supporting Kelvindale and other post offices to develop their business.

According to reports in today’s Herald, Hyndland Post Office in Clarence Drive has also been saved. I was delighted to support the Hyndland Residents Association in campaigning against this closure and congratulate local residents on a successful campaign.”

Jo Swinson MP for East Dunbartonshire also commented:

“Labour MPs have remained silent while their Government has repeatedly undermined the Post Office – by scrapping the pension book, withdrawing government services and failing to invest in the Post Office network. Not a single one of Glasgow’s Labour MPs attended the recent debate in Westminster on Post Office closures [Evening Times], despite it being during the consultation period with 20 Glasgow Post Offices under threat. By contrast, local Liberal Democrats have been leading the campaign to save Kelvindale Post Office, and it’s wonderful news that strong community support has enabled this Post Office to be saved.”