I'm not sure what statistically valid means in this instance. Any sample is only as good as its degree of representation of the parent population. In the case of opinion surveys the only things that counts is the effect they have - that is in the way they are interpreted and the consequent response to them.

Clearly if one agrees with the outcome of a survey then it's a jolly good thing. If one disagrees then it can be written off as "unrepresentative". In neither case does anyone know what a larger set of people might say, and the only way to settle it would be a plebiscite. Even then people would complain about low turn out.

So what we have is a reflection of a number of people who are concerned about FH and, what appears to me, a Council which does not look at the concerns of people whom it is elected to 'represent'.

My impression is that LBL is more concerned about meeting central government housing 'targets' than troubling about the wishes of its electors. It is playing to an audience outside of Lewisham. This could explain the awful, manipulative "consultations" undertaken by the Council and an apparent refusal to deal with the issue of the pool in a sensible and responsible manner - we are on to 'consultation' number 3 now, and yet again there is a head of steam worked up against it.

I think that the FHS survey was probably useful in reflecting the views of a number of people and I am all in favour of any action which pushes Councils towards a clearer, more honest articulation of its policy decisions.