Hi New2grammar
I've gone through the following Britsh English dictionaries and the definitions are as follows:
local [usually plural] someone who lives in a place where you are or the place that you are talking about: We asked one of the locals to recommend a restaurant. (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
local [usually plural] a person who lives in a particular place or district: The locals are very friendly. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
noun: locals The locals are the people living in a particular area. (Times-Chambers Essential English Dictionary)
noun: locals The locals are local people. (Collins Cobuild Dictionary for Advanced Learners)
I will leave you to decide whether, according to British English, 'a local' is fine.