A RESIDENTS' group is urging people to use their vote to play an active role in their community.
The group, from the Hawthorn Terrace area of Durham, has been campaigning to improve the neighbourhood through the reduction of traffic and parking.
Now it is urging people to use the forthcoming council elections to get what they want from the local authority.
Group member Colin Green said: "We share the concerns of the Government that interest and participation in local democracy is on the decline.
"This is our chance to try to reverse the trend."
Resident John Richardson said: "One of the main reasons for apathy in local politics is the feeling that people's views don't matter to local councils.
"On the parking issue, for example, council officers will not give us a scheme that is acceptable to most residents."
The group has organised a question and answer session with local candidates, covering a range of issues, on Monday at Waddington Street Church, at 7.30pm.
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