WHAT value do people place on democracy? Not a lot if the people of Whiteley are anything to go by.

It represents around 1,500 people - but just seven members of the public bothered to turn up to the very first meeting of Whiteley Parish Council yesterday.

It took several years for the parish council to be established in its own right and required permission from John Prescott to do it.

But last night the residents of Whiteley voted with their feet and the majority stayed away from the first ever parish meeting.

Leader of Winchester City Council Sheila Campbell said support should be given to the newly formed parish council.

"Seven members of the public isn't a very good turnout but I think it is going to take some time for residents to understand and appreciate what a parish council can do.

"It is the first port of call for residents who have problems to see if they can get them resolved at that level or else have it channelled in the right direction.

"I would absolutely encourage people to take this opportunity to use the newly formed parish council to their benefit."

Newly elected councillor for the Whiteley ward Caroline Watts said that Whiteley residents did actually care what happened to their ward.

"I think that due to the working lifestyle of many residents in Whiteley they do not have the time to attend meetings. Generally there isn't a lot of numbers when public meetings are held but that doesn't mean residents aren't interested. They just want different ways of being kept in touch, like newsletters for example."

Despite the apparent lack of interest in grassroots democracy, determined members pledged to make the community a better place to live.

The eight strong committee co-opted three local residents as members to bring the council up to its full strength.

After electing Don Bate as chairman, deciding upon a modern logo and sorting out who was to sit on different committees it was straight down to business.

Mr Bate said he was "delighted" and "honoured" to accept the chairmanship.

"I trust we can all work together. We have a duty to the ratepayers of Winchester City Council who pay an extra precept in their council tax for the council," he said.

"We want to be good value for money and improve our environment."

The new organisation will represent around 750 homes in Whiteley falling within the Winchester City Council boundary.

The remaining 1,500 homes are represented by Fareham Council which does not have separate parish councils.

During the meeting members deferred a request by Whiteley Community Association for £500 to go towards its new youth club - attracting 65 children at its first gettogether this month - until its next meeting.

Mr Bate insisted that if the parish council was giving money to the project, based at the community centre within Fareham's boundary, members should at least have some say in its running.

The council also supported the setting up of a public display at the Meadowside Centre outlining plans to build a skatepark next to it.

The parish council is to meet on the first Monday of every month at the Meadowside Centre except in August.