HORTON residents are being asked to take part in a survey about housing needs in the village.

Questionnaires have been sent out to 200 residents to find out what people currently living in the Horton area need. This includes housing needed now and housing that may be needed in the future.

The project is part of a council review of housing in South Gloucestershire's rural areas and fits into a larger rural housing strategy.

Cllr Maggie Tyrrell, South Gloucestershire Council's executive member for community care, housing and health, said: "Many people are forced to live away from this rural area where they have strong ties because property prices are so high.

"Affordable housing is very scarce in the villages of South Gloucestershire and it is vital that the people in Horton have a chance to help solve the problem by making sure we have good local information.

"A local housing needs survey can tell us what type of housing is needed where and is the first step in helping to solve the problem."

The Rural Housing Partnership, which is made up of South Gloucestershire Council along with Bath and North East Somerset Council and North Somerset Council, has appointed a rural housing enabler to carry out a programme of work in raising the profile of affordable housing and carry out surveys to establish housing need in rural settlements and parishes.

The post is funded through the Housing Corporation and Countryside Agency and is supported by Community Action (the Rural Community Council) and two developing partners, Knightstone Housing Association and Rural Housing Trust.

The Horton questionnaire should be returned to the council by Monday.