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.”

The  campaign is going from strength to strength – in the last week, Scottish Lib Dem Leader Tavish Scott and Charles Kennedy MP have both come to Otago Lane to give their support.

The ‘Leave Our Lane Alane!’ protest on Saturday was a great success, with a huge crowd turning out despite the nasty weather, and responses to Katy’s appeal for objection letters are continuing to pour in.

There is still time to write to the council to object to this ridiculous development. Go to www.saveotagolane.co.uk to find out how you can help.

On Tuesday, Scottish Lib Dem Leader Tavish Scott joined Katy outside Tchai-Ovna tea house for a taste of what things might be like if the proposed housing development on Otago Lane goes ahead.

They had tea with Martin Fell, owner of Tchai-Ovna, out in the freezing February wind. If the building work gets the green light, the businesses along the lane will be in real jeopardy, leaving Tchai-Ovna’s customers out in the cold. Tavish commented:

‘Otago Lane and the businesses there are  vital and historic part of the community. It would be a real shame if the redevelopment were to go ahead as currently planned.’
‘Katy Gordon is a fantastic local campaigner and she continues to work very closely with the Save Otago Lane Campaign.’

You can read more about the campaign to save Otago Lane in today’s Evening Times. Also, this Saturday at 12 noon there will be a protest in Otago Lane – bring your friends, and if you can, bring a ‘Leave Our Lane A Lane!’ banner. You can find out more on the campaign’s Facebook page.

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.”

Iain Steel, Katy Gordon and Kenneth Elder outside Tchai-Ovna

Katy and Lib Dem Hillhead Cllr Kenneth Elder met Iain Steel, Chair of Otago Lane Community Association and other campaigners today to discuss how the party could help fight to retain the character of this lane in the heart of the West End in the face of development proposals for 163 flats (in 8 storey high blocks) down one side of the lane.  Katy said:

“Otago Lane is a unique collection of independent shops and the well-loved Tchai-Ovna tea house, which adds to the character of the West End.  A development of the size proposed would completely destroy the character of the lane, as well as going against the Council’s own City Plan.  While the developer has recently withdrawn the proposals, he has made it quite clear they will be resubmitted.  There is a mandatory consultation period which we must use to raise the profile of the campaign to preserve the lane. I will be doing all I can to support the campaign.”

Please sign up to support the campaign at www.saveotagolane.co.uk and let Katy know if you can help. You can also join the campaign’s Facebook group to keep up to date with developments.