How YOU can become the voice for your area

Monday 31 August marks the start of the 2009 community council election period

Community councils are looking for people who care about their neighbourhood and who want to make it better. By getting involved, you can become the voice of your area and speak out about community concerns and issues.

Each community council receives a grant from the Council to help fund activities and invest in issues you feel are important.

The Council, Police, health and the voluntary and community sectors all work together within the partnerships to enhance the quality of life in local neighbourhoods.

Community council members should be free of political bias and anybody of any race, gender or religion can get involved.

Nomination forms will be available from your returning officer at the end of August. A list of returning officers is available on the Council’s and the Neighbourhood Partnership’s websites.

Meet Tom Martin, chairman of Queensferry & District community council

How did you initially get involved?

I’ve been chairing the council for four years. After I retired I had some time on my hands and noticed in a local paper that the community council was asking for people to join.

What are the main issues for the community council?

The main issues are transport and planning. Queensferry is home to the Forth Road Bridge which, at times, brings its own problems. It is also a former Royal borough and a visitor attraction, so often there are too many cars and not enough spaces and inadequate bus services into Edinburgh. We are always aiming for improvements and sometimes it’s the small things that make the difference.

Are you looking for more people to get involved?

We are always looking for people from all walks of life – as long as they are over 16 and on the electoral registrar and they have the time and commitment.

We do have young people from the local high school who are co-opted members, but our youngest member is in their early 20s. We have a cross-section of family people, business people and retired people.

Does the community council arrange local events?

Members of the community council joined in and arranged the most recent royal visit of Princess Anne. Members are involved in all sorts of events, including Christmas preparations, RNLI and the ferry fair.