Angus councillors’ Catalan experience ‘unforgettable’

An Angus councillor who travelled to Catalonia for the independence referendum has described the trip as one of the shining moments of her life.

Julie Bell, SNP councillor for Kirriemuir and Dean, travelled from Scotland with friends in a show of solidarity and said it was an unforgettable experience.

Ms Bell stayed in Girona, which is about an hour from Barcelona, and her party managed to escape the scenes of violence which were seen elsewhere in the region during the weekend.

She said the group went in a show of solidarity and to stand alongside the Catalan people in support of their right to vote – whichever way that was.

Ms Bell said they also wanted to repay the fantastic support they received from Catalonia during Scotland’s independence referendum.

The party visited some polling stations and took part in a demonstration and were blown away by the welcome they received from locals.

She said: “The people have been amazing and I won’t ever forget this.

“I really want to capture some of this energy and bring it home. “It was multi-generational. “When we were in the polling station there were toddlers, teenagers, parents, grandparents, all side by side.”

She said the only sign of violence they witnessed was a civil servant who showed them a head injury he had allegedly suffered at the hands of the Guardia Civil.

Fellow SNP councillor Lynne Devine was also part of the party in Catalonia.

The Forfar ward member described the experience as “absolutely amazing”.

“We were really taken aback by the welcome we received as Scots,” she said.

“They knew all about Scotland and our own referendum and I’m so glad we came here for this.”