ORGANISERS of a pro-independence rally are planning to take Glasgow City Council to court over its decision to reject their application to stage it in George Square on September 19, a year and a day after last year’s referendum.
Hope Over Fear, a socialist campaign for independence, is angered by the council’s refusal of its application for a demonstration for the third time after taking advice from the police.
The group now plans to take the issue to a judicial review.
The group lodged its application with the council on May 13 but about a month later, a supporter of the Union put in a bid to hold a “Union Flag Day party to celebrate the first anniversary of the sovereign will of the people to remain in the United Kingdom” for up to 3,000 people on the same day in George Square.
Tommy Sheridan, one of the founding members of Hope Over Fear, said: “We are going to take them to judicial review because this decision hasn’t been taken properly and with bias, there is no doubt about that. This the third time they have tried to refuse us permission.
“The rally is definitely going ahead and there will be thousands there but this time we are actually going to take the council to court as well. We’re going to drag the council over the legal coals.
“Our application went in on May 13 and the other one went in the following month. The idea it has taken them this length of time to try to tell us they won’t give us permission is unprofessional and discourteous but then to use the excuse that it’s because someone else has applied is beyond a joke.
“We are just not going to being pushed around by the council any more. They are just a bunch of Unionist, bias people.”
The council took the decision to refuse both applications because it said the police raised “public order concerns”.
Police Scotland told The National: “We did have some concerns about both events proceeding on the same day and made some initial observations to Glasgow City Council to that effect.
“The final decision for the event lies with Glasgow City Council.”
Data protection laws prevent the name of the applicant who applied to hold a Union Flag Day on September 19 being revealed as the application was submitted under an individual’s name, not an organisation.
It did not go to elected council members because it was refused at the first hurdle by administrators and so has never been on any public record.
A council source said: “It’s not about first come, first served.
“We have to look at these things in the round and when police give you advice about a risk of disorder you have to take that seriously.
“Saying no to both camps was unfortunately the safest and fairest way forward.”
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