Residents living in a sheltered housing complex near Newbridge are now able to benefit after the complex was made a ‘No Cold Calling Zone’.
The ‘No Cold Calling Zone’, which is to benefit residents from more than 30 properties in the Pantside Sheltered Housing Complex, means that it will now make it much more difficult for residents to be cold called by people selling goods and services door-to-door.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team with support from Gwent Police set up the ‘No Cold Calling Zone’, which covers homes in St Peter’s Close and Tyr-yr-Pwll Terrace.
It is the third zone to be established in the county borough, with ‘No Cold Calling Zones’ also in existence in several streets in Trethomas and The Bryn Estate in Pontllanfraith.
The ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ was established after Paula Davies, Warden for the Pantside Sheltered Housing Complex contacted Trading Standards to report concerns about doorstep sellers attempting to take advantage of residents.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “We are pleased to be able to implement a ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ in this area of Caerphilly county borough.”
“‘No Cold Calling Zones’ are about people being safe in their communities and having the full support of the council and the police when it comes to dealing with the small minority of people who take part in doorstep crime.”
While a ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ does not make doorstep calling illegal, it does make it clear that it is not welcome.
Signs have been placed prominently on street lampposts in the area by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Community Safety Wardens, to warn prospective sellers that the residents have agreed that they don’t wish to receive calls door-to-door.
Residents have also placed stickers in the windows of their houses, asking sellers not to call on the residents. They have also been given specific advice on how to avoid cold callers, how to properly check the legitimate identification of officials and meter readers, and also some tips on how to deal with telesales phone calls.
Doorstep crime can include anything from rogue home improvement firms to bogus officials and bogus charities.
For further information, please contact Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team on 01495 235 291.
