Council ready to chase out cowboys

10:17am Thursday 21st September 2006

Rogue traders are set to be chased out of town under a new community scheme to crack down on doorstep cowboys.

Enfield Council Trading Standards officers have teamed up with police to provide residents in Palmers Green with tips on getting rid of unwanted merchants. Teams are to patrol a No Cold Call Zone' in Kenmare Gardens, Ulster Gardens, and Munster Gardens.

As well as flushing out unscruplous traders, patrols will be checking to make sure that construction firms that operate in the area are legitimate and will also be looking to cut levels of distraction burglary.

Councillor Terry Neville is Enfield's cabinet member for environment. He explained why the zone is necessary. "Conmen can fleece the vunerable and cause misery. These vultures should get the message that Enfield is a no go zone for them."

Residents will be equipped with we don't buy at the door' stickers and phone numbers to report conmen. Council officers will also be on hand to dish out legal advice.

The Enfield No Cold Call Zone is one of several that being rolled out across London and the UK. Similar schemes are operating in Lewisham, Barking and Dagenham, and Bromley. In total there are more than 350 nationwide.

Ron Gainsford, chief executive of the trading standards institute, said "98 per cent of householders simply do not want cold callers. This is about people standing up and saying enough is enough."