• Friday 10th September – Bearsden South, with Jo Swinson MP and Cllr Vaughan Moody. Meeting at 5:30pm, the junction of Whitehill Road and Ledcameroch Road.
• Saturday 11th September – Lenzie, with Jo Swinson MP. Meeting at 1:30pm, Lenzie Public Hall.
• Sunday 12th September – Westerton, with Jo Swinson MP, 3-5pm, meeting at Westerton Station.

Hope you can make it! You can see all our upcoming events on FlockTogether.

I thought I should send you an update on recent developments with the Lower Kilmardinny/ Westpark planning application, as it is an issue that many local residents have raised with me.

You are probably aware that the Reporter has now given permission for the development, against the views of both local elected representatives and the local community.

I was outraged to learn that the Scottish Government Reporter has ruled that the Council must foot the bill for some of CALA’s legal expenses for the public inquiry into the Kilmardinny development plans.

The Reporter ruled that the Council’s planning board acted “unreasonably” by failing to make its position clear on what contribution it expected from the developers toward replacing the Allander Sports Centre. She also said the board failed to back up its claims that more than 150 parking spaces would be required for a park and ride facility.

I find it outrageous that the Reporter is now accusing the Council of acting ‘unreasonably’, when her decision to grant the appeal can hardly be described as reasonable. In her decision letter, the Reporter even admits that the Kilmardinny application ‘did not accord with the development plan in some respects’, but despite it contravening local planning rules she is still allowing the development to go ahead.

This decision to ask the Council to foot the bill for the developers – at a time when Councils are all facing budget cuts – adds insult to injury.

As I have previously said, I will continue to support any steps the Council will take to prevent this development, and I believe they still have significant clout as the landowner of the Allander Sports Centre site.

Please do let me know if you require any further assistance, in relation to this or any other matter.

Yours sincerely,

Jo

Cost £10.00 per adult, children free. BYOB – soft drinks and food will be provided.

To help with catering please let us know if you are able to make it. You can call the office on 0141 772 8444 or email the local party convenor, Helen Watt, on helendwatt1@yahoo.co.uk.

If you have any questions about helping out with survey sessions then do call Jamie at the office on 0141 772 8444.

The dates are:

• Saturday 7th 1pm. Bishopbriggs – with Alastair McPhee. Meet at Cue and Review Offices, Crowhill Business Centre, 18 Crowhill Road, Bishopbriggs, G64 1QY.
• Friday 13th 5:30pm. Bearsden South – with Councillor Vaughan Moody. Meet at the junction of Allander/Teviot.
• Friday 20th 5:30pm. Bearsden South – with Councillor Vaughan Moody. Meet at junction of Henderland and Switchback.
• Saturday 21st 3pm. Milngavie – with Jo Swinson MP. Meeting at junction of Craigend Crescent and Learmont Drive.
• Sunday 22nd 3pm. Bearsden North – with Jo Swinson MP. Meeting at junction of Gartconnell Drive and Gartconnell Road.
• Tuesday 24th 6pm. Bishopbriggs – with Jo Swinson MP. Meet at local party office, 4a Springfield House, Emerson Road, Bishopbriggs, G64 1QE
• Friday 27th 5:30pm. Bearsden South – with Councillor Vaughan Moody. Meet at Westerton Station.

Please do check the website for future additions. If you can’t make any of these dates then why not help by running your own survey session? Call Jamie at the office on 0141 772 8444 to find out how.

The new app called MyMP developed by Public Zone and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) aims to create better dialogue between MPs and the public.

At the touch of a button, constituents in East Dunbartonshire can now provide Jo with their views on local issues, email Jo, read about what she has been doing, and keep up with local news, all of which help makes Jo’s work more accessible.

To download the free app for your iPhone, visit www.my-mp.org.uk .

Proposed Constituencies of [1] Clydebank and Milngavie and [2] Strathkelvin and Bearsden

The Local Party Executive of East Dunbartonshire and Clydebank Liberal Democrats invites applications for selection as Prospective Scottish Parliamentary Candidate for each of the above constituencies.

After a by-election gain at the end of last year, there are now two Lib Dem councillors within each of the proposed constituencies, all within the Bearsden & Milngavie area, where Jo Swinson polled particularly strongly in both general elections. Both proposed constituencies contain a healthy local membership. The Local Party employs an experienced Local Organiser. If you wish further details please contact Rod Ackland on 0141 777 7803.

The selected candidate must be prepared to fight the seat irrespective of any change in the boundaries.

Applications for selection, with full political CV, should be sent by Tuesday 31 August 2010 to:

Mr Norman Fraser
SLD Returning Officer
3/1, 8 Striven Gardens,
Glasgow, G20 6DZ

Mr Fraser can be contacted at 0141 946 4120 if required.

Applicants must have applied to be approved at the closing date for applications and must be on the Scottish Party’s list of Approved Candidates by the date on which the shortlist is drawn up. It is the responsibility of applicants to check that their applications have been received by the closing date.

This Weekend
Friday 17th – 5pm, Bearsden South. Meeting at the junction of Lochend Road and Lochend Drive (map). Led by Cllr Vaughan Moody.
Sunday 19th – 2pm, Lenzie. Meeting at Lenzie Station car park (map). Led by Rod Ackland.

Next Weekend
Fri 23rd – 5:30pm, Bearsden South. Meeting at junction of Coronation Way and Ballater Drive (map). Led by Jo Swinson MP and Cllr Vaughan Moody.
Sat 24th – 1pm, Lenzie. Meeting at Lenzie Station car park (map). Led by Jo Swinson MP.
Sun 25th – 1pm, Milngavie. Meeting at the junction of Oakburn Avenue and Carbeth Road (map). Led by Jo Swinson MP.

If you can make it to these events, please do RSVP on 0141 772 8444.

We will be meeting at the corner of Lochend Road and Lochend Drive at 5pm.

If you can make it, or have any questions about how you can help then please do call Jamie at the office on 0141 772 8444.

The feature will be discussing beauty advertising. For more on Jo’s thoughts on this issue you can read Jo’s article: ‘Less airbrushing, more reality’ on Comment is Free.