Kirkbean broke the mould on Monday night by hosting speakers from both sides of the Galloway National Park debate.
And it was standing room only in the village hall as upwards of 150 people turned up to listen and have their say.
Galloway National Park Association trustee Gordon Mann made the case for the park while Denise Brownlee from Gatehouse and Alasdair Marshall of Crocketford spoke against.
Ronnie Stevenson and Brendan Muldowney of Kirkbean Community Council convened the event.
And they made it clear at the start that speakers were not to be interrupted and discourse should be courteous.
Many agreed afterwards that hearing from the yes and no camps allowed for a more informed discussion.
That said, it appeared many present had already made up their minds no matter what was being said.
On a show of hands at the end, those against visibly outnumbered those in favour by a large margin.
However, the picture changed when Mr Stevenson asked who was undecided.
Almost as many hands went up – mostly at the back of the hall – as had voted no.
Opening the debate, Mr Mann addressed concerns over democratic accountability.
“The board would be elected primarily by locals, either directly or through councillor representation,” he said.
Ministerial appointments would be around 30 per cent, comprising people “with additional skills in farming, tourism, forestry and community development.”
He added: “National parks in Scotland must promote sustainable economic and social development of its communities – that does not apply in legislation for national parks in England.”
Mr Mann also highlighted Galloway’s desperate demographic situation and suggested creating a national park, with all the investment and jobs that would bring, would spark a change in fortunes.
He said: “The 2022 census showed that Scotland’s population was up 2.8 per cent.
“But Dumfries and Galloway’s was down by 3.7 per cent.
“That’s the largest population decrease in mainland Scotland – and Galloway had an even bigger population loss.
“Doing nothing is not an option.”
Ms Brownlee countered that a national park was not needed and as the A77 and A75 “suffer from under-investment” the region’s infrastructure should take priority.
“Sorry, we don’t want to replace discerning tourism with mass tourism,” she said, adding that Galloway’s hills, land and coastlines were “managed by the people who live and work here”.
And any well paid professional jobs attached to the park, she insisted, would go to people from outside the area.
She said: “Any work available to locals is low paid seasonal work in the tourism economy.
“The CEO and board members will all do very well out of it thank you.”
Mr Marshall highlighted potential house price increases as an issue if the park became a reality.
Citing figures that the average home in Cairngorm National Park now costs £305,000, he said: “How can young people afford to continue to live and work in the community?
“I’m doing teacher training and want to come back.”
Mr Mann responded: “A national park is well placed to tackle that issue head on.”
Both existing national parks in Scotland, he added already had affordable home targets well above those applied nationally.