Council says survey not sinister (From Dorset Echo)

Council says survey not sinister

9:53am Wednesday 4th July 2001

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COUNCIL officers have reassured tenants their housing survey is “above board and not sinister”.

Gravesham Council has sent out 1,500 surveys to tenants in the borough to assess their housing needs.

But some elderly residents who live on their own in three-bedroom houses feel they are being sent surveys because the council wants them to move out to make way for families.

Brian Button, aged 64, of Windmill Street, Gravesend, said: “I know several people living in Waterdales, Northfleet, who feel they have been targeted.

“It seems really sinister and under-hand because these people are being asked questions like 'Are you living on your own' and 'Can you manage on your own?' in the survey.

“Now people want to know what the council is trying to get from these surveys and are calling for them to be upfront about it.”

But a spokesman for Gravesham insisted the council was sending the surveys out randomly and people are not being targeted.

He said: “There is no way the council is trying to force people out of their homes.

“This survey is simply to assess people's housing needs and find out if any of our tenants are having problems with where they are living. There should be no cause for concern about it.”

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