Village rallies against rogue traders

Buy photos » Jeffrey Johnstone, Birdingbury neigbourhood watch coordinator Jackie Morton, PCSO Helen Steadman, Coun Robin Hazelton and trading standards officer Janet Faulkner launch the 'no rogue trader' zone. 28.012.034.rug.jm1

A VILLAGE has become the county's first 'no rogue trader' zone after it was identified as a hotspot for cowboy workmen.

Birdingbury, near Dunchurch, had such a problem with rogue traders and distraction burglars that 70 out of its 120 homes told Warwickshire Trading Standards of visits by dodgy doorstep callers.

Meanwhile nearly every house had people knock on their door selling products or offering their services, with anything from dish cloths to driveway tarmacing touted.

And with most people living in Birdingbury feeling doorstep callers were a problem, trading standards and police have jointly established the village as Warwickshire's first 'no rogue trader' zone.

It has seen all villagers issued with door and window stickers, along with information booklets, while street signs at all entrances to Birdingbury now warn any rogue traders they will be reported.

County councillor Robin Hazelton, who represents Birdingbury, said: "Rogue traders and distraction burglars are responsible for conning people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds each year in Warwickshire alone and it is the elderly and vulnerable who suffer the most.

"The No Rogue Trader Zones will help discourage rogue traders, cowboy builders, distraction burglars and high pressure sales people from operating in the village."

Residents in the village will be encouraged to report any suspicious activity, and Trading Standards officers will then either visit or call to investigate further.

The scheme will now be monitored and is likely to be rolled out to other villagers across Warwickshire.

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