West Ferry residents turned on SNP councillors as they attempted to justify boundary changes.
At a meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council on Tuesday evening, council leader Ken Guild was heckled as he defended the administration’s recommendation to merge the west of the area with Dundee’s East End ward.
His insistence the move was not part of “political machinations” was disputed by those in attendance.
In May the city council agreed with a boundary commission recommendation that West Ferry should join the East End ward.
Conservative councillor Derek Scott objected to the proposals at that time, but could not find a seconder.
The potential change has caused outrage among residents, who fear losing community ties and control of planning regulations.
More than 300 people turned out to the special meeting at Eastern Primary School.
Councillor Guild told the meeting the changes were the most acceptable solution for Dundee.
He said: “Support for the changes we proposed was almost universal among councillors. Only Derek Scott objected, and he could not find a seconder.
“We were looking to drive for parity, which is the main factor that is taken into consideration. It is the fairest way to divide the boundaries.
“Broughty Ferry at the moment is the largest ward area and second-largest in terms of population.
“Since I became a councillor in 1984 there has been tremendous population growth in Broughty Ferry, with almost all of it concentrated in the east end of the ward, putting tremendous pressure on council services, including schools.”
Locals, however, were largely unmoved by his arguments and those of fellow SNP councillor Kevin Cordell.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=IaxQbJ7tkLc%3Frel%3D0
Mr Scott said he had always opposed the boundary changes, while Labour member Laurie Bidwell said he “regretted” not having sided with him at the time the proposals were agreed.
Mr Bidwell told the meeting it was difficult to oppose the political will of the SNP group when “their large majority in the council chamber” made any proposals “a done deal”.
Nonetheless, all four councillors of The Ferry ward said the proposition was not a done deal and that the community could still have its say.
Mr Cordell said: “There is a clear community mood here. The proposals are not set in stone, the council has only proposed a change.
“There is so much apathy around politics so it is a good thing that there are so many people here getting involved.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=j6Cea3Jmv6U%3Frel%3D0
The council’s legal chief, Roger Mennie, also addressed the meeting, telling attendees about the regulations surrounding boundary changes, as well as the formula for objections.
He added that Scottish Government ministers would make the final decision on any boundary changes a comment that was met with groans and laughter from residents at the meeting.
See below for updates from the meeting as it happened.