ONLY the threat of Kempsey becoming part of Worcester could be enough to persuade residents to take part in a housing needs survey.

Even the chance of winning a prize draw would not encourage a majority to fill in and return a three-page questionnaire, parish councillors decided this week.

"The threat of a few hundred houses is the only thing that motivates this village," said chairman Joy Clee.

The survey, drawn up with the help of Worcestershire rural housing enabler Alan Saunders, of Community First, aims to assess the need for low-cost housing for local people.

Coun Mike Harrison questioned its value, saying it could only indicate present housing needs and might not be valid in a few years' time.

"I wouldn't know how to fill it in accurately. Children can change their minds about where they want to live if another opportunity comes along," he said.

But Coun Clee said it was important to know whether low-cost housing was needed in the parish.

"How can we speak for residents unless we do a survey?" she asked.

"If they don't bother to fill it in, it's no good complaining afterwards."

Mr Saunders said the survey could help identify hidden housing needs. He would analyse the results and report back.

"About 40 per cent of people don't register on the housing waiting list when they should," he said.

"There may be people living in overcrowded accommodation who are not on the housing list because they think they have no chance of getting affordable housing in the village."

If the survey showed a need, this would be taken into in a review of the local plan.

A suitable site would have to be found within the village, but outside the settlement boundary, where the land would be cheaper and rents could be kept low at around £50 a week instead of £500 a month.

Coun Pete Copson said the parish hall would be filled with objectors if it was proposed to build outside the settlement boundary and Coun Ann Hart thought present Elgar Housing Association tenants would all want to move to the new houses because the rents would be lower.

It was agreed the questionnaires should be delivered to more than 800 houses with the parish magazine. Parish councillors would target another 550.

Those in outlying areas would be collected by hand and others could be returned to shops and the village hall.