POLITICAL correctness taken to the absurd, is how some people are describing the latest survey from Bexley Council.

The questionnaire is being handed out to people parked in council-owned car parks.

The survey asks questions like how long and how often people park, why they chose that car park and any suggestions for changes.

But the third page is devoted to the ethnic origins of the person filling in the survey form.

One driver asked: "Why is the ethnic background of car drivers of any interest to Bexley, unless it intends to have politically correct ethnic quotas for those using car parks?"

He said he was horrified enough when he heard about non-denominational Christmas lights and said he hoped the survey "would be treated with the contempt it deserves."

Another driver surveyed said: "If you don't think the car park is clean enough, or the parking spaces big enough, what does it matter if you are Chinese or Afro-Caribbean?"

A council spokesman said the questionnaire was a standard format. "It let us know whether we are reaching all groups of residents in the borough. It is important people do fill in the questionnaire."

November 20, 2001 12:44