‘No cold calling zones’ set up in North Lancashire (From The Westmorland Gazette)

‘No cold calling zones’ set up in North Lancashire

6:37pm Tuesday 12th April 2011 in Silverdale news

COLD CALLERS are being given the cold shoulder thanks to new neighbourhood schemes set up in North Lancashire.

The area around Elder Close, Westfield Drive and Millfield Close in Warton, and Spring Bank, Levens Way, Hazelwood, St John's Avenue and St John's Grove in Silverdale, have been designated 'no cold calling' zones.

Cold callers are those who arrive on your door stop without prior invitation.

This may include traders looking for work or salesmen trying to sell products or attempting to get you to sign up for schemes.

Signs have now been placed in the streets to warn such callers that they should not be knocking on doors in the area and include a number for residents to phone should anyone call at the door.

Paul Noone, head of Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service, said: "Our advice is to always say no to cold callers and never do business on the doorstep – we receive hundreds of complaints every year.

"No Cold Calling Areas are an effective deterrent and we strongly support communities who want to establish them – we now expect instances of doorstep selling and distraction burglaries to drop in this area."

PC Paul Edson, community beat manager for Warton, said: "Many residents, especially those who are elderly or vulnerable, find cold callers intimidating and can feel pressured into agreeing for work to be carried out or obliged to part with money.

"The new signs make it clear that cold callers are not welcome."

He added: "We would always advise residents not to carry out business on their doorstep with someone who has arrived unannounced.

"Go away and have a think about it, consider other quotes and look at references.

"Consider fitting a door chain for extra peace of mind when answering the door and always ask for, and verify identification, before letting someone in to your home."