Episode Four further explores river rights and access to waterways. It opens with a poem by Edwin Morgan read by Marc Cairns of New Practice and ends with a newly commissioned poem by Tawona Sitole, written specially for the podcast. Jude and Louise begin the episode by reflecting on the response to their petition to the Scottish Parliament, which seeks to grant the River Clyde the right to legal personhood. And some positive next steps. They are also joined by those campaigning for enhanced nature rights and greater access to rivers for swimming and leisure. This includes Matt Sykes of Regeneration Projects in Melbourne, Australia and co-founder of the Swimmable Cities initiative. Along with other Glasgow-based contributors working to improve heritage and leisure opportunities along the Clyde.The episode ends with Louise and Jude returning to the River Clyde’s fragmented ownership. They invite listeners to join them at their experimental event for the forthcoming Architecture Fringe on June 21st at the Briggait, Glasgow.

Contributors to this episode are, in order of appearance:

Marc Cairns, New Practice reading ‘Clydegrad’ by Edwin Morgan, Dr Tawona Sitole, poet and lecturer in Creative Practice Education at the University of Glasgow, Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Glasgow, Paul Sweeney MSP for Glasgow Region, Foysol Choudhry MSP for Lothian Region Fergus Ewing MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Matt Sykes of Regeneration Projects in Melbourne, Australian and co-founder of the Swimmable Cities Initiative, Lucy Janes, University of Stirling, Peter Breslin, Director of Maritime Projects Scotland, Michael McLaughlin, Friends of TS Queen Mary, Jill Robbie, Professor of Property Law and the Environment, University of Glasgow, Dr Tawona Sitole, poet and lecturer in Creative Practice Education at University of Glasgow reading his poem ‘Run River Run’

Presented, researched and co-produced by Jude Barber and Louise Welsh. Recorded, edited and co-produced by Halina Rifai.

Original music by Graham Fagen & Ghetto Priest.

In this bonus episode, Jude and Louise discuss the thinking behind their decision to launch a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for the River Clyde to be granted the legal right of personhood. Is it a wild idea or one rooted in existing law with the power to protect the Clyde as an ecosystem and potential to expand citizen access to the river? Could the Clyde become the lifeblood of Glasgow again? Louise and Jude also reflect on responses to the podcast and the petition so far, thanking those who have supported the podcast and their actions. They also share information about other initiatives and campaigns around the Clyde and other rivers. Their reflections end with a glimpse of what is to come in episode four, with an excerpt from a recent lecture given by Louise as part of the St Mungo Festival.

Links to references within this episode:

The Petition to The Scottish Parliament: https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2131

Swimmable Cities: https://www.swimmablecities.org/

Keep Scotland Beautiful - Upstream Battle: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/upstream-battle/

Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust: https://www.fnlrt.org.uk/

BBC Article ‘ Anger over fee plan for small boats on River Clyde’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrn0k2lxgwo

St Mungo Festival Lecture: https://stmungofestival.co.uk/2025-1-lecture-one-welsh/

Should you have any thoughts, ideas or questions, please do contact Jude and Louise on whoownstheclyde@gmail.com

Or via socials at: Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social1 and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_empire_cafe_23/

On 22nd October 2024, we welcomed an audience of around hundred people to Collective Architecture’s offices for a public event asking the question, Who Owns the Clyde?

We invited four contributors to present a brief provocation to the audience, who were invited to contribute their thoughts and ideas in return. As with all Empire Café events, this was a conversation rather than a debate.

Our audience was self-selecting. We were lucky to have city planners, councillors, architects, conservationists, building preservationists, mariners, activists, artists, academics, writers, students, engineers, designers and citizens from many other walks of life in the room. We are grateful to them all for their presence, enthusiasm and generosity in sharing their knowledge, thoughts and ideas.

If you have listened to previous episodes of Who Owns the Clyde you will already have met some of our provocateurs, they are,

Andy Wightman, Land Reformer

Caitlin Arbuckle MacLeod, Graduate Planner at Collective Architecture, Glasgow

Holly Bruce, Glasgow City Councillor (Greens)

Dr Andrew Hoolachan, Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Glasgow and Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute

This live bonus episode is presented, researched and co-produced by Jude Barber and Louise Welsh

Recorded, edited and co-produced by Halina Rifai

Please note this episode was recorded in real time and is longer than previous ones