The leader of Three Rivers District Council has been accused of misleading the public over homelessness figures.

Three Rivers District councillor David Sansom said leader Sara Bedford lied about the number of families from Three Rivers that are living in bed and breakfasts outside the district.

The Conservative councillor said her claim that “many households were in B&Bs in Slough and Luton” is false and a housing officer in the council has said there are only two.

Last year, the Observer reported that the council was planning to build “shipping containers” to house up to 100 homeless people at the former Royal Voluntary Service site, in Bury Lane.

READ MORE: 'Council prioritises profit over people's lives': Councillor slams plans for homeless accommodation in Rickmansworth

The plans to replace the community centre have proved to be divisive and Cllr Sansom argues they are simply a profit-making scheme.

Cllr Sansom said: “Understandably the council needs to save money, and if that’s why the council is building the accommodation, then Sara just needs to come out and say it.

“She claims it is morally right to build these homes and bring families back to the area, but it’s not very moral to not tell the truth. She should have made sure her facts were right.

“These plans have upset many residents and they deserve to be told the truth. Sara claims that many Three Rivers families are living in B&Bs in Luton and Slough, but I’ve spoken to a housing officer within the council who has admitted there are only two households living in B&Bs in those areas.

“The council will end up making money by offering these homes to other councils – they will not only be used to house homeless people from Three Rivers.”

READ MORE: Up to 266 homes for homeless could be built in Three Rivers

The council claims the units will alleviate current housing problems and save it up to £340,000 a year by 2018.

Although the plans have not received planning permission, the potential savings have been included in the council’s budget.

But Liberal Democrat councillor Sara Bedford is refuting the claims, arguing that the figures are in constant flux.

She said confusion stems from the difference between the terms B&B and nightly accommodation. Those staying in nightly accommodation are not entitled to breakfast.

She said: “The number of homeless households and where they are housed is constantly changing, but are showing a steady increase.

"We need to ensure that we can house as many people as possible in council or housing association accommodation. Not to do so would be letting down both our vulnerable residents and our council taxpayers.”

READ MORE: Nearly 100 homeless people could move to Rickmansworth

Three Rivers’ Chief Executive Dr Steven Halls said: “The council currently has 89 households in temporary accommodation. Of these, 58 are housed outside the district, and a total of 60 are in nightly paid accommodation.

"These households are Three Rivers residents, homeless through no fault of their own.

“The council is seeking to build temporary accommodation purely to house its own residents and not to house people coming from outside the area."