The prospect of an unprecedented number of angry residents turning up to a community meeting about controversial boundary changes has forced organisers to seek a new venue.
The only item on the agenda for the regular meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council is a discussion of plans to move the West Ferry area into the city’s East End ward.
The organisers believe hundreds of concerned residents could turn up in a bid to understand the contentious issue, which has caused widespread anger among the community.
They have already moved the meeting from its usual location in Broughty Ferry Library, which can hold about 60 people, to the gym hall at Eastern Primary, which can hold upwards of 200.
One of those attending the meeting is Roger Mennie, Dundee City Council’s legal adviser, who organisers hope will shed light on some of the issues involved in the proposal by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBCS).
Stan Nutt, chairman of Broughty Ferry Community Council, said the meeting on September 1 would be an opportunity for the group to take a sounding of local feeling on the issue.
He told The Courier: “This is our regular meeting and the only item we have on the agenda is a discussion of the boundary changes.
“We are looking to get a sense of what the public in Broughty Ferry think not just those in West Ferry but those in the whole of the area, because it affects others as well.”
A consultation on the planned changes is currently taking place, and The Courier recently revealed that the proposals had already elicited the most objections of any proposed boundary alteration in Scotland.
The West Ferry Residents’ Action Group has canvassed hundreds of homes in a bid to garner objections to the proposals.
The plans for Dundee, which would bring the total number of elected members in the city to 31, as well as see more minor changes to other ward boundaries, were approved by city councillors in May.
LGBCS chairman Ronnie Hinds said the public’s view expressed during the consultation will be important.
The Broughty Ferry Community Council meeting will take place on Tuesday September 1 at 7pm.