a suggestion perhaps

[emmie]

that some people on AB, stop referring to council estates, property, as dirty sink estates, as i read yet another person refer to the gypsies of Dale Farm possibly going into a council estate. All the properties i know, local and where friends, family live are not like that, but well kept pleasant places to live. I would agree there are some estates in London are like that, but not all.

[B00]

If the travellers do end up on these estates, that's what they'll become, sink estates, except without any actual sinks in them, they'll have stolen those.

[Noraq]

em10...are you suggesting that some people on this site tend to generalize, surely not!..I yam shocked at you. =)

[ummmm]

But some estates are like that.

[emmie]

well not all are, and as per usual people not just on here, but in papers, news etc do the same. And our area, properties are not like that.
As a council tenant of long standing i do take exception to the stereotypical image of lazy, shameless, as in the tv programme, types, the people i know, have grown up with were never like that.

[rowanwitch]

It is unfair there are a lot of estates especially in big cities where the decent ordinary people struggle alongside the Asbo families.... but it really isn't like that everywhere... I accepted a flat from the council as I was stuck in a difficult situation and couldn't get out.... its lovely... refurbished block carpetted common areas, cleaned regularly. squeaky clean lifts and wonderful views. :Lots of nice people in the block who seem friendly and even though it is for over 50s many of us work and appreciate the opportunity to live in a decent home where we feel secure.

Its on the edge of an area where there are a few undesirables but mostly its just nice people who say hello in the street and hold shop doors open for you...

[saxy_jag]

I grew up on a council estate and my experience was very much what Em and Rowan describe. However when I moved back there seven years after leaving it had really gone downhill. Rubbish-filed, overgrown gardens, kids out causing trouble at all hours of the day and night, and a row of shops that was a no-go zone during the hours of darkness.

Efforts are being made to tidy up many of our council estates, evict the trouble-makers and reduce crime levels. It's a slow process and there are still areas in this city at least that you wouldn't want to go to, but they're improving gradually.

Let's not forget though, that gypsies moving into an area, council estate or otherwise, does not mean trouble. They are for the large part clean, tidy and 'house' proud people whose kids are well-behaved and respectful to their parents. But if you're trying to live a peaceful life and some racist thug decides to put a brick through your window and torch your new car, then what are you going to do about it?

[Craftypig]

The sinks will be useless anyway, the pikeys will have stripped all the copper piping from the house's first chance they get.

[rowanwitch]

agreed...have had a few dealings with 'travellers' when nursing and while mostly a little 'rough around the edges' they were mostly friendly, polite, and very supportive of the sick person... but then they were treated with kindness and courtesy as one would any group of patients/relatives....

[redcrx]

i would feel sorry for any nice estates, council or otherwise, having the gypsies move in. Its happened to a large brand new housing estate where i used to live and, sadly, the owners and HA residents are seeing the areas decline. The gypsies live in a totally different way to everyone else and it does have a huge effect on people that are forced to live in same estate.

how much room is there in the Falklands?

[emmie]

Rowanwitch, thank you. It does get up my nose that we are all lumped together this way.

[bednobs]

have just done a search for "dirty sink estates" and the only person that has referred to them on this site is you

[emmie]

those may not be the exact words, but the references are there, if you live on a council estate, you are a chav, or worse.

[cazzz1975]

the council estate I lived on was a very friendly place, I live on a private estate now and people are quite aloof and snotty

[emmie]

a remark made this very morning, in regards to the Gypsy/Travellers at
Dale Farm, "They would fit in well on any chav council estate"

[ummmm]

But that's not saying they think ALL council estates are like that.

[emmie]

how do you differentiate then>

[ummmm]

I think common sense. We all know there are good estates and bad estates.

[cazzz1975]

on here there is quite a heavy amount of pigeon holing regarding council estates

[rowanwitch]

the whole point is even the worst estates have a lot of good people in them,,,, you only hear about them when something awful happens usually as a result of them trying to make a stand...

[emmie]

Cazz Thats the problem, pigeon holing people. Who hasn't criticised the Gypsies of Dale Farm, or the Tory toffs, and left wingers, right wingers, the list is endless. Some of this has been covered before i know. But if it gives some time to think, that not all of us, and that would be millions who have council homes, are skiving, drug taking, lowlifes. TV has a lot to answer for as well, in often portraying people in this way. If it's good enough for
Del Boy and his family i guess it's good enough for us. x x