DEMOCRACY will be brought back to the residents of Duntocher and Hardgate after the resurrection of the area's community council, the new chair has said.

Charlie Sherry, who kicked off a campaign to see the group re-instated after a hiatus spanning more than decade, has spoken of his excitement over the new community council and encouraged locals to come along to their next meeting and meet the team of eight.

The 50-year-old said: "I eventually got enough people to constitute a community council.

"Councillor Jim Finn and Provost Douglas McAllister came to the first session to give us some tips and we elected the chair, which is myself, and vice chair John Redpath.

"Although we are a committee, every member of the community is a member of this committee as far as I'm concerned and it will be a vehicle for them to have their voices head."

In August, Charlie said one issue he would like to see tackled by the new community council would be to ensure building works do not take place on the green belt, which, he says, has been rumoured.

And that is the very first order of business for the group, who have invited police and Provost McAllister along to their next meeting – to be held on Wednesday, November 2 in Glenhead Community Centre – to discuss the idea.

Charlie said: "We will get the latest report on the possible housing development on the greenbelt which a lot of people, including myself, are very much against.

"We are hoping to get as many locals as possible along and if there is enough support, we will build a campaign within the community to try and avoid it."

Charlie is determined to ensure the group's resurrection will encourage others within the area to become more active in, not only the community, but also wider politics.

He said: "What inspired me to get the council together is bringing democracy back to the community where it belongs.

"Hopefully it gets more members of the community active in the political process and involved them in decisions that are made about the community on their behalf."

A council spokeswoman added: “The formation of this new group is an extremely positive step for the communities of Duntocher and Hardgate and will ensure they have a strong voice on issues affecting their neighbourhoods,.

"We look forward to supporting the group and working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Charlie is in the process of setting up a dedicated Facebook page for the community council to allow the area's 7,000 residents to keep in touch and up-to-date with its progress.