Cheshire West and Chester Council Christmas card rent warning puts people in fear

Dec 31 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

CHRISTMAS goodwill was abandoned when the council sent out cards warning Chester tenants their home was at risk if they missed rent.

One 86-year-old woman was reduced to tears as she called a councillor worried she would be kicked out of her home if the delayed Christmas post meant her rent payment was late.

The cards warned: “Your home is at risk if you do not keep to your payments.”

Councillor Alex Tate (Lab, Blacon) says fellow councillors have been inundated with calls from worried residents.

He added many of his colleagues were astonished to learn that Cheshire West and Chester Council sent the message in a jolly looking Christmas card wishing all tenants a Happy Christmas.

Cllr Tate said: “Such complete indifference and lack of any awareness of how ordinary people lead their lives by the Tories leading this council has once more justly earned them the name of the ‘Nasty Party.’

“Shame on you for adding further stress to those least able to deal with financial worries without the fear of losing their home at such a time.”

Tory councillor Lynn Riley, Cheshire West and Chester executive member for Area and Community Services said under the Tories, the new council has cut evictions for rent arrears in Ellesmere Port from 17 last year to five this year.

She added: “If our tenants say that the Christmas card was the worst idea, and don't send any more of those out, then we won't. I'm sorry if people are upset but we have a duty to keep as many people as possible in the black because the rest of the council tax payers pay for the people in the red.

“It's really frustrating that everything we do that's new and different we're criticised for.

“I would encourage anybody that has a complaint to let us know.”