November 5, 1976

REDDITCH job creation plans could settle a long standing argument over just how many people live in Redditch.

For some of the new council employees who would be taken on under the Government Job Creation Scheme may be used to conduct a local census.

The head counting idea has come from Labour leader Walter Stranz. "A simple survey would produce something which we could not afford to pay for otherwise and it would be useful to the town."

The argument over how many people live in Redditch has been going on for some time with the national census office and the amount of the council's rate support grant depends on population.

Up to 12 jobs will be provided for the unemployed and people aged between 16 and 25, or over 50 whose wages are paid by Whitehall.