Wakefield residents say 'no' to cold callers
Published by Richard Lord for Wakefield & District Housing in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Health
Chair of Gill Sike Tenants and Residents' Association Pauline Morley, Chief Officer for West Yorkshire Trading Standards Graham Hebblethwaite, PCSO Liam Leafe and WDH Area Manager Rachel Willoughby
Cold callers will get the cold shoulder from Wakefield residents, thanks to a new scheme to improve safety in local communities.
After the success of the very first ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ in Crofton, Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) has teamed up with West Yorkshire Trading Standards to launch a second zone in the Gill Sike area of Wakefield.
The new zone will aim to reduce the risk of incidents involving rogue traders, distraction burglars, pushy sales people and doorstep criminals.
Cold Calling Control Zones aim to give residents the knowledge they need to be safe within their homes but, most importantly, the confidence to say 'no' to cold callers and prevent incidents of doorstep crime. The zones act as a deterrent to constant door knocking, which is often seen as a nuisance but can also cause anxiety and stress.
This popular initiative continues to thrive across West Yorkshire, with 47 successful zones now in place and a further 10 due to go live in the coming months.
The scheme was introduced after tenants and residents from the Gill Sike area approached WDH and Trading Standards to discuss ways of stopping cold callers and doorstep traders visiting their homes. Following consultation in the area, those living within the proposed zone were also invited to help decide where the signs would be placed.
Rachel Willoughby, WDH Area Manager for Lupset, Ossett and Horbury, said: “We take the safety of tenants and residents very seriously and are pleased that a ‘No Cold Calling Control Zone’ has been set up in the Gill Sike area.
“This scheme sends a clear message that cold callers and doorstep traders are not welcome here, along with offering additional reassurance to local people.”
Community involvement is key to ensuring that the zone is successful. Each zone is revisited on an annual basis to ensure it continues to be effective. Residents can also attend workshops to raise awareness of current issues and scams to look out for, and offer feedback on the effectiveness of the zone and possible improvements to consider.
Graham Hebblethwaite, Chief Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said: “This zone is a great opportunity to build on the partnership we already have with WDH and we look forward to establishing more zones together in the near future, to work towards our collective goals of reducing the threat of crime and improving the quality of life for our communities.”
For further information on Cold Calling Control Zones, please visit the West Yorkshire Joint Services website at www.ts.wyjs.org.uk.
To report incidents of doorstep crime or cold calling in your area, or to enquire about setting up a zone, please call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
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