SURVEYORS have been told by the head of Oxfordshire’s children’s services they were too intrusive when they quizzed school pupils as part of a traffic study.

Staff working for consultants SKM Buchanan stopped youngsters in Abingdon and asked them where they lived and where they were going.

But they have been condemned by county councillor Mike Badcock and now told by Jim Leivers, the council’s director of children’s services, to stop asking any questions that could identify children or where they live.

SKM Buchanan refused to reveal why it was carrying out the survey two weeks ago, although it has previously produced a traffic consultation for Hallan Land Management, the firm wanting to build 160 houses east of Drayton Road.

Mr Badcock said: “I am absolutely appalled that they would stop and ask children where they are coming from and going to – in this day and age it is unacceptable.”

Surveyors were given a sheet of instructions, acquired by Mr Badcock, on which they were told to ask: “Where did you begin the current journey you are taking?”, and given the added instructions: “Full postcode is preferable, if not an address (street name and house number) would be good.”

SKM also instructed the surveyors in bold, underlined letters: “Interviewees should be probed to provide as much information as possible.

“Answers such as ‘home’ or ‘to the shops’ are no use, as we need postcodes and street names to track and map the journeys.”

Mr Badcock raised his concerns with Mr Leivers, who asked the firm not to ask questions which could identify children.

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “While we understand their need to gather information, the director of children’s services has asked that they do not ask questions which could potentially identify either who they are, their personal circumstances or where they live.”

SKM refused to say why the study was carried out or which company it used.

Technical director Jenny Baker said: “We were particularly aware that it is not appropriate to ask children to respond to questionnaire surveys and the brief was explicit that children should not be questioned.”

Mrs Baker said a member of staff from the survey company told SKM: “I have spoken to everyone involved, and unfortunately it looks like we have, on a few occasions, interviewed young people considered likely 16 years old or sixth formers. Please accept my apologies for this.”