THOUSANDS of people on a housing waiting list do not have a "chance in hell" of getting a new home.
The city council says around 5,320 people waiting for a council property in Stoke-on-Trent have no real housing need.
That represents 56 per cent of the total 9,500 people who want a council home.
Changes to Stoke-on-Trent City Council's housing policy means that in future, only people who are either homeless or can show they have a genuine need for a new home will get a council house.
Instead, the 5,320 people who have no real need to move will be placed on an "inactive" housing list, which will simply lie on record.
The proposals went before yesterday's improving communities overview and scrutiny committee.
Councillor Dave Conway, City Independents, said: "The problem with this is we are accepting people on to a housing register who have no hope in hell of getting a property.
"We are building people's aspirations up by accepting them. It is pointless in my view."
City Independents councillor Brian Ward said: "We have got almost 10,000 on the waiting list and more than half of them have no real housing need. They just want a new driveway or a swimming pool, or whatever."
Under the revamped housing policy, people who will be considered for council properties will fall into one of three bands.
The highest priority will be given to the homeless, families living in severely overcrowded conditions, or people who need to move on health grounds.
The next band includes people who are ready to move from supported accommodation; and the final band includes people being investigated to find out if they became "intentionally homeless", elder people in need of sheltered housing and families facing hardship and welfare problems.
But Councillor Mick Salih, of Community Voice, said: "Under homeless regulations it does not matter if someone has made themselves homeless, under the law we have an obligation to house them. We house criminals.
"I get asked why we have given houses to different people when they cause problems wherever they go.
"People have been kicked out of a council home, gone into private rental, then fallen behind in rent, been kicked out again and then we have to house them."
BNP councillor Michael Coleman, pictured left, said: "Placing problem tenants in communities is de-evolving them.
"Criminals are leaving prison and being given houses and they are bringing criminal behaviour with them.
"We have got many decent folks living on these estates and they expect to be protected."
At the end of a lengthy debate, councillors gave their approval to the new-look policy; but accepted it had its faults.
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