The Scottish Government has been told it must reject boundary changes that would tear Broughty Ferry in two.
After almost two years of consultation and a record number of objections, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has recommended sweeping changes.
It is now seeking approval from Scottish ministers to redraw ward boundaries – most controversially shifting part of West Ferry into the East End.
The commission has also called upon the city to elect and fund two additional councillors, who would represent the Maryfield and North East areas.
Ferry councillors said they were “dismayed” and have called for Scottish ministers to back the city’s wishes and ignore the recommendations.
Administration leader Ken Guild said the proposals were “not helpful” and pledged to write to the Scottish Government to reiterate the local authority’s unanimous opposition.
He told The Courier: “We do not want this. At a time when we are cutting staff numbers because of financial constraints, appointing two additional councillors does not make sense.”
Ferry councillor Derek Scott, meanwhile, is the sole elected member on the council to have objected to the proposals from the outset.
He said: “It is so disappointing that the commission has ignored the wishes of local residents and of all councillors.
“The letters of objection that I have seen gave many well-argued and compelling reasons for why this should not happen. We must hope that the Scottish Ministers see sense and reject these recommendations.”
Those views are echoed by Labour councillor Laurie Bidwell, who said: “This is incredibly disappointing news for Broughty Ferry and I think that local people will be devastated.
“It shows that the efforts of the many hundreds of people who objected – and there were more from Broughty Ferry than from the rest of Scotland combined – have not made a difference to the commission.”
The commission’s chair Ronnie Hinds said the recommendations were “in the interests of effective and convenient local government across Scotland”.
He thanked councils and the public for their participation in consultation and – in what will come as a kick in the teeth to the thousand or so Broughty Ferry residents who objected – said it had “been able to take on board many of the views expressed”.
The Scottish Government will announce its final decision later this year.
