Gay or straight? Christian or Hindu? 'Intrusive' council survey wants to know
Whether your straight or gay, Christian or Hindu, the council wants to know.
A survey asking residents for their private details has been slammed as 'intrusive and unnecessary'.
Some 8,000 Gloucester people have been asked for their views on the new multi-million pound Elmbridge transport plan.
The major scheme will provide 1,000 park-and-ride spaces and a transport interchange at one of the county's busiest roundabouts at a cost of £16.5million.
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But a survey asking for residents' views asks for details on their religion, gender and sexual orientation.
Longlevens resident Dave Bennett, from Brooklands Park, said: "It is intrusive and completely unnecessary.
"Why does it matter what your faith or sexual orientation or even your gender is just to use a park and ride?
"I'm at a loss as to why this information is needed."
A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Collecting equality information allows the council to ensure it is delivering its services fairly, equally and appropriately to all groups.
"A key part of the Equality Act 2010 places a requirement on the council to ensure that it is aware of the needs of the people who use our services.
"When we run consultation events, equality monitoring helps us to determine if we are reaching people from all walks of life in order to gain a representative view of people's opinion.
"If anyone is uncomfortable answering these questions, they can choose to not respond."
See Friday's Citizen to read what residents who attended a consultation event at Longlevens Library last night thought of the transport plan.
2 Comments
by Lecorche
Thursday, January 31 2013, 10:56AM
“Would this be the same council that didn't listen to people when they closed all the public toilets ?”
by geraint2010
Thursday, January 31 2013, 10:11AM
“OK this sort of information might be useful in helping the council provide appropriate services for the people they represent, but why in a survey only applicable to those using the Park and Ride? I can only assume the council are considering furnishing the car park with gender, religion and sexual orientation appropriate services - a small mosque for Muslim prayer, a manicure service for the ladies and a toilet black suitable for cottaging perhaps?!”