FIGURES obtained by Cllr Tim Aker MEP show the "sheer scale" of the council housing backlog in Thurrock. At full council in August, Cllr Aker was told there were 6,500 residents on the waiting list.
New figures show the number of new council properties becoming available vary between 500 and 800 a year, averaging out at a ten year wait providing no one else joins the council house waiting list claims the UKIP MEP.
Cllr Aker said: "We hear warm words every month from the portfolio member for housing, but I am still not sure what her views are on council housing.
"There is a crisis in council housing with residents joining the queue looking to wait ten years for their turn.
"Yet all we see is more private development and little thought given to social and council housing in Thurrock.
"Of course when 330,000 more people enter the country than leave every year, this places enormous pressures on housing, education, health and other vital services.
"Until this is brought under control, pressures will intensify and the situation will only get worse."
