South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 23/01/2014

The zones are being set up by South Gloucestershire Council’s trading standards team, with the support of the police, and follow requests from local residents who have chosen to say no to uninvited doorstep traders. These new zones can be found at Crown Gardens in Warmley, Fountains Drive in Barrs Court, Dennisworth in Pucklechurch and Oaklands Drive, St Annes Drive, St Helens Drive and Lodge Drive in Oldland Common.

A community led version, a ‘Community Doorstep Control Zone’, is also being launched in Ferndale Avenue, Longwell Green after Oldland Parish Council approached trading standards wanting to help protect their residents from unscrupulous doorstep traders.

Visitors to the zones will see street signs on lamp posts to warn cold callers, and residents will also be provided with information packs and a door/window sticker to display. The aim is to protect residents as well as empowering them to refuse traders selling at their door, through advice and information.

Residents are encouraged to report breaches of the zones to trading standards and the police as traders who ignore the zones could find themselves being arrested for committing an offence.

Cllr Claire Young, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council’s Communities Committee, said: “These zones are great for the local community. They not only help to deter rogue traders and annoying unsolicited callers, but also arm local residents with the confidence, advice and information they need to refuse traders selling at their door. Research has shown that there is a link between cold calling and doorstep crime, such as distraction burglary and rogue trader activity, and this scheme is proving a popular and effective way that the council, the police and the community can work together to combat this type of nuisance.”

Victoria Hicks, Oldland Parish Council clerk, added: “Oldland Parish Council is working alongside South Gloucestershire Council’s trading standards team to eliminate the problem of cold calling in our local community. This new Community Doorstep Control Zone will address a need identified by our parishioners. The Parish Council is working on a plan to add new areas to the Zone to provide greater protection particularly to the elderly and vulnerable.”

The advice being offered by Trading Standards is to treat all cold callers with caution and suspicion, and to report such instances to the department through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06.

If you would like further information about doorstep and mailing scams, you can request one of Trading Standards new booklets, which come with a Scamwise door sticker asking doorstep traders not to call. To request a copy call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline or email your name and address to trading.standards@southglos.gov.uk