Plan B Forum

A council has come under fire after sending tenants an 'insulting' newsletter telling them to set aside money for court fine, cigarettes, Sky TV and lottery tickets.

Crawley Borough Council sent the advice in a leaflet to thousands of council housing tenants - who reacted with fury at being treated like 'beer-swilling chavs' like TV's Frank Gallagher. The newsletter, which includes a reminder to residents that they have to pay their rent and council tax, was slammed by locals in the Sussex town as 'an insult' offering patronising advice.



The 12-page bulletin features a section titled 'Take control of your money', which states: 'Working out your budget is all about looking at what money you've got coming in and what you are spending.' It tells tenants to list all their expenditure, adding: 'Some things are more important than others so make sure you put these first. 'You need to pay your rent or you could lose your home. Electricity and gas bills need paying so you don't get cut off. If you don't pay your council tax you could go to prison. Court fines need paying too.' In a list of costs which could be incurred by tenants, the council mentions Sky or cable TV, lotteries, magistrates' court fines, cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, haircuts and child maintenance payments.

Local Will Davies, 28, said: 'The newsletter makes it sound like every council tenant is like Frank Gallagher in Shameless. 'Not everyone sits about watching Sky TV with a fag and a can of booze just waiting around until they have to go to court. 'The simple fact that the council included these items just goes to show what they think of their tenants - they think they're just chavs.' Another resident, Sarah Jarman, 41, said: 'This newsletter is an insult to everyone who lives in the town. 'We are not beer-swilling chavs waiting for a Lotto ticket to come in, but that's obviously what the council think of us.'


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