Saw this in on the Evening Star website, wondered what took them so long to pick up on the idea of Ipswich being a Chav Town and how upset our local councillor for Gainsborough is over the comments. should we all write in with our comments??
"Suffolk 'chav' towns under fire"
December 25, 2004 12:42
YOU'VE heard of tidy towns, county towns and historic towns but chav towns?
While Ipswich may aim for the first and can rightly lay claim to the second and third titles, residents have today been left wondering is it wholly fair to brand the town with the latter, somewhat undesirable, label? The latest fashion in derogatory slang has come crashing down on Ipswich as web users vie to have the town named the Chav capital of England.
It seems web chat has switched to web chav on website ChavTowns, where Ipswich is branded a hive for the "fashion challenged" and a picture is painted of the Gainsborough estate as a place where "youths live amongst the burned out cars and smashed bottles".
The term chav, which was one of the buzzwords of 2004 after it entered popular vocabulary, is used to describe baseball cap-wearing youths with flashy jewellery, annoying mobile phone ringtones and modified cars.
One contributor to the ChavTowns website, calling themselves Liddlemonkey, wrote: "Ipswich has a wonderful collection of council estates. "The youths that live amongst the burned out cars and smashed bottles dream of being old enough to get a job in "Maccy D's" (McDonald's) or "BK's" (Burger King).
"Witness the marvel of the Gainsborough estate, where no policeman will venture without body armour."
Another chav-ed off writer claims: "If you ever have time, the open top 'sightseeing' tour of Ipswich is pure gold. "It takes in all the major council estates of which their (sic) are five and boy are they huge.
"Expect to see the chavy remains of burnt out cars, shops and fat…chavs sitting on the grass verges." The descriptions of Ipswich have left one town councillor wondering what prompted all the abuse.
John Mowles, an Ipswich borough councillor for Gainsborough ward, said: "I am concerned if Ipswich is being talked about in that way. "We have, and we have had, problems in Gainsborough from time to time. (But) to suggest that it's a no-go area doesn't do Gainsborough and doesn't do Ipswich any good at all. Much of Gainsborough is occupied by people who get on with their lives and are thoroughly decent. To suggest that things are out of control is not the case. It isn't fair and it isn't accurate."
Not even the seaside resort of Felixstowe escaped the self-appointed chav-detectives, who also took a disliking to its scenery.
One contributor, calling themselves Chilisara, wrote: "Cars aren't safe on the side of the road - 'cos late night chav walking means wing mirrors get booted off 'just for laughs'."
