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| Bridgend tenants' anger at Creme Egg 'bedroom tax gift' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tenants in Bridgend affected by housing benefits cuts have hit out at a housing association that offered them a Cadbury Creme Egg as thanks for paying their rent. | |
| Valleys to Coast (V2C) told residents it was because the introduction of the "bedroom tax" had been "a challenging time". | |
| Tenants have branded the move an "insult". | Tenants have branded the move an "insult". |
| V2C said the offer was a way to remind tenants that staff were there to help. | V2C said the offer was a way to remind tenants that staff were there to help. |
| The letter signed by V2C's head of neighbourhoods Nigel Draper said: "The bedroom tax was introduced just over a year ago and Valleys to Coast Housing would like to thank you for your efforts to pay this shortfall. | The letter signed by V2C's head of neighbourhoods Nigel Draper said: "The bedroom tax was introduced just over a year ago and Valleys to Coast Housing would like to thank you for your efforts to pay this shortfall. |
| "V2C understands that this has been a challenging time and wants to recognise your payment efforts." | "V2C understands that this has been a challenging time and wants to recognise your payment efforts." |
| It goes on to say residents can collect a free Creme Egg as a "small thank you" if they call into its office during the month of April. | It goes on to say residents can collect a free Creme Egg as a "small thank you" if they call into its office during the month of April. |
| The housing benefit cut, introduced last year, is what the government calls the removal of the "spare room subsidy" but critics call the "bedroom tax". | |
| Tenant Kay Harris, of Bettws, said the letter from the housing association was insulting and degrading. | |
| "It's disgusting. I just laughed, I thought they were taking the Mick," she said. | "It's disgusting. I just laughed, I thought they were taking the Mick," she said. |
| "They should be helping people pay their rent not trying to buy people with chocolate." | "They should be helping people pay their rent not trying to buy people with chocolate." |
| Tenant support | Tenant support |
| Alan Short, a caseworker for Cardiff and South Wales Against the Bedroom Tax, which covers Bridgend, branded the move "a joke". | Alan Short, a caseworker for Cardiff and South Wales Against the Bedroom Tax, which covers Bridgend, branded the move "a joke". |
| "I think it's appalling that they can put out this sort of letter," he said. | "I think it's appalling that they can put out this sort of letter," he said. |
| "It's a joke. How seriously are they taking the issue of the bedroom tax?" | "It's a joke. How seriously are they taking the issue of the bedroom tax?" |
| A spokesman for V2C said the offer had been supported by tenants on its welfare reform working group. | A spokesman for V2C said the offer had been supported by tenants on its welfare reform working group. |
| "We always need to engage and keep the [bedroom tax] debate alive and the invitation to attend one of our regular walk-in sessions in Bridgend and pick up a free Creme Egg over Easter was a way of reminding tenants that even during the school holidays staff are available to help with financial advice," the spokesman added. | "We always need to engage and keep the [bedroom tax] debate alive and the invitation to attend one of our regular walk-in sessions in Bridgend and pick up a free Creme Egg over Easter was a way of reminding tenants that even during the school holidays staff are available to help with financial advice," the spokesman added. |
| "As a housing association our relationships within the community go much further than just tenant and landlord." | "As a housing association our relationships within the community go much further than just tenant and landlord." |