A new community council to cover the whole of the Maryfield ward in Dundee could hold virtual meetings in a bid to attract more support from younger residents in the area.
Local activist Cory Campbell is hoping to tap into the groundswell of people power which led the city council to think again about providing a pedestrian crossing on busy Pitkerro Road.
An online petition attracted 270 signatures and, though no final decision has yet been made, the council’s head of transport Neil Gellatly has said that the local authority would not object to the crossing and is now “not a million miles apart” from campaigners on the issue.
“We had so much support for Pitkerro Road that we thought we should run with it,” said Mr Campbell, who added that he was inspired to pursue the community council plan after learning of the struggles for survival faced by the city centre and harbour body, which lies within the Maryfield ward.
He and his wife Lisa have now launched another online petition, this time seeking support for the community council project, and have also set up a Facebook page.
Mr Campbell said he has also spoken to fellow students and their representatives at Abertay University, many of whom expressed an interest in becoming involved in a group which would give them a forum to voice their concerns over issues that affect them.
To make the idea even more appealing to them, he is looking at new ways of using technology.
“The students said we should have one meeting in person and the next online and start using technology more,” he said. “Some said they had been interested in joining the Friends of Baxter Park but because of their studies didn’t have hours to spare to sit through a meeting.”
Though Dundee could have 19 community councils, because of lack of interest from residents just three are active in Broughty Ferry, the West End and Fintry though there are similar neighbourhood groups in Stobswell, Ardler, Kirkton, Coldside and Whitfield.
However, Mr Campbell maintained that a Maryfield community council would not cut across the work of the existing Stobswell Forum and other community bodies in the area but could provide an umbrella under which they could share ideas.
He has made an initial approach to the city council about his plan and the next step will be a public meeting to analyse the level of support, he said.
“We are just going to invite everybody people who signed the petition, the many local groups and churches in the area.”
A Dundee City Council spokesman said the local authority was keen to see people take an active part in their communities.