Want a new road? Are you transgender? The questions came with this very fancy, glossy brochure about the proposed new road, asking me about my colour, my religion, my sex and whether I was heterosexual, a gay man or a lesbian. When I asked the council about it, a typical officer told me Whitehall insisted on it. Only three of the ten questions on the consultation paper relate to the road, asking for residents" "overall opinion," preferences on location and "other comments." The other seven questions relate to personal details, including home postcodes, gender, age and disability. One asks about "religion and beliefs," another requests a description of ethnicity and a final question details respondents" sexual orientation. Mr Howarth added: "I sent it back with a message saying "what a load of rubbish."" Jim McMahon, project director for the road, said the Equality Act required local authorities to monitor the impact of policies on equality groups. "The three Councils, Stockport, Cheshire East and Manchester City, involved with the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road, have a duty towards equalities and social inclusion," he said. Therefore the questions were agreed to allow future analysis of all responses and demonstrate that the consultation reaches all areas of the community. The wording of these questions reflect similar questions used in the Census and also from national equalities guidance. These questions are purely optional and do not have to be answered to register a comment, question or view on the scheme. Earlier this month, communities secretary Eric Pickles called for councils to end the collection of "intrusive" questionnaires about sexuality and religion in a bid to save money. In a booklet entitled 50 Ways to Save, officials advised councils to stop asking residents "about their sexuality, religion and other personal details." Last year, residents wanting to join libraries in Islington, north London, were asked whether they had a "hidden impairment," such as cancer, HIV, or diabetes. Brent council asked new readers whether they had mental health conditions "such as depression or schizophrenia," while those in Leicestershire were asked for information about their sexuality, religion and race.