4:26pm Tuesday 8th January 2008
By Andy Whelan
The owner of a world-famous tea shop today declared war on Brighton's "muesli mountain" claiming residents are too busy burning their bras and doing yoga to care about their community.
David Daly, who runs the Tea Cosy Rooms in Southover Street, said he would "rather live and trade on a council estate" than remain in affluent Hanover.
He has accused homeowners of not reporting vandalism and yobbish behaviour to keep crime figures low and house prices high.
Mr Daly, 30, who has written a book on etiquette, said he has even decided to move his celebrated tea shop to another area in Brighton and Hove.
The quaint shop made headlines across the globe after it emerged its owners had banned elbows on tables, mobile phones, slurping, handling sugar cubes and clattering of teaspoons.
A rule book has ensured customers adhere to the strict etiquette with some falling foul of the guidelines and being shown the door.
Now Mr Daly has attacked the spirit of residents in the neighbourhood after his shop suffered repeated vandalism attacks.
Mr Daly said: "Unfortunately, all people think about in this area is their property prices so they never, ever report crime.
"They would all rather turn a blind eye and keep the name of the area up with a low crime rate than stand up to yobs that are terrorising the area.
"Your house could be burning down and the people would just walk straight past and go to the pub.
"They are all too busy burning their bras, doing yoga and eating wheat free bread to even notice.
"We think Hanover has lived on its reputation of muesli mountain for far too long.
"In reality it is run down, dirty, crime ridden and an un-friendly area full of secret alcoholics.
"In my personal opinion I would rather live in Whitehawk than live in Hanover."
Mr Daly, who runs the shop with partner James Green, 26, said his business has been forced out of the area because it has been targeted by yobs, costing thousands of pounds in repairs.
He said: "We have had the shop windows smashed three times and the property vandalised, once with indelible marker." He said some of the graffiti showed lurid sex acts involving the Royal Family.
"They all have intolerances; intolerant to wheat, dairy and glucose but they all go to the pub which makes me laugh.
"I don't think any of them have actually been told by a doctor they are intolerant to it, I think they just have too much time on their hands."
Sussex Police statistics show Hanover and Elm Grove has one of the lowest crime rates in the city.
The latest figures for July show 75 crimes in the area. There were 1,094 reported incidents in central Brighton.
Hanover councillor Bill Randall said: "In my experience Hanover is the best and most supportive community I have lived in.
"It is extremely friendly and people look out for each other.
"The crime figures are not high and he is wrong to suggest there is a conspiracy amongst residents to keep figures low."
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