Nuisance street “chuggers” in Nantwich are facing a crackdown, council bosses have claimed.
It follows a number of complaints from shoppers and visitors in the town about aggressive ‘hard sells’ by some fundraisers.
Others say they have been “pestered” to provide direct debit details in the street.
Now Cheshire East Council has vowed to target behaviour of paid street fundraisers who operate in Nantwich and other towns like Crewe, Macclesfield, Congleton and Wilmslow.
Cheshire East officials are teaming up with Nantwich Town Council and the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) to hammer out voluntary agreements to improve professional standards.
Cllr Les Gilbert, Cabinet member in charge of localism and enforcement, said: “We know there is a problem.
“We are determined to do the right thing by our residents, local shops and businesses – and reputable charity collectors who run risk of being tarred with the same brush.
“We are keen to promote the vibrancy of our town centres as great places to shop, visit and do business.
“This initiative aims to assist retailers who are concerned that shoppers are being put off coming by the activities of ‘chuggers’ on our high street.
“The problem for all towns is that there is no legislation that covers in detail the activities of ‘chuggers’.
“However, a recent meeting with our partners in this area provided a great deal of positive information centred on the role of the PFRA with a voluntary code with sanctions.”
Steve Service, outreach officer at the PRFA, said: “We are pleased to be working with town centres across Cheshire East to get an area-wide agreement in place to regulate direct-debit fundraising.
“The right of charities to seek a sustainable form of income must be balanced against the rights of the public not to be put under undue pressure to give money.”
(street fundraiser pic by William Starkey under creative commons)
The problem is that the Chuggers are not after just “a few pounds”. They’re after a long term commitment to lots of pounds. Like you Fred, I’m big enough and old enough to look after myself. But just perhaps, not everybody is. And even if just one person is coerced into signing up for something they don’t want or maybe can’t afford, then it’s totally and absolutely wrong.
I have no problem with smiling at strangers. But if they’re armed with a clipboard, biro and “charity jacket”, I’ll cross to the other side of the street. I don’t want it. Why should I have to try to avoid it? I don’t want to have to lie about “somebody round the corner”. And I’m positive that they affect business in the town.
Did you actually read the article, Fred? “Nuisance street Chuggers are facing a crackdown”. “Complaints from shoppers and visitors”. “Pestered to provide direct debit details”. “Cheshire East council has vowed to target behaviour…in Nantwich and other towns”. “the rights of the public not to be put under undue pressure….”. You may love these guys, but it’s clear many others, and the council, don’t. I assume you also don’t mind being called several times a day by cold-callers, or having your inbox full of Spam? It’s intrusive, and that’s precisely why the council is tackling it. (And, btw, it’s a pity you don’t make your points in a less aggressive way, I’m perfectly capable of appreciating others’ views without being lectured)
Like I said, get a grip!! You don’t actually have to respond to anyone approaching you in the street, it is your right to ignore them. However it is a worry that folk find strangers such a threat, times we live in I suppose. When was the last time you smiled at a stranger in the street, or exchanged a few cheery words? Yes I did read the article thank you !!! Because I fail to see such a huge problem is probably because I would never find myself under undue pressure because I have a choice not to engage with anyone I wish not to.
For goodness sake get a grip, what do you suggest these folk do all day, watch tv?! All you have to do is say “Hi, already seen one of your mates around the corner” you don’t have to explain you failed to sign up earlier do you!? Show some compassion, they are only doing a job, you in turn don’t have to be rude or feel uncomfortable either, so shop on!!
About time too. These people are an absolute nuisance, holding out their arms in ambush, and greeting you like a long-lost friend. I have been stopped four times just walking across the town square, and cold-calling for a long-term, direct debit commitment is simply too much. Charity collections are fine, but this style of press-ganging is far too intrusive, annoying and intimidating. Why don’t they just have an information stand and leaflets explaining their aims and donation methods? I will happily donate to charity, but never through these methods.
Pardon my ignorance when i read “Chuggers” i thought of chugging on beer and thought that they were considering clamping down on the few people who sit in the square on a daily basis getting off their heads on whatever is the cheapest,is this how we promote the vibrancy of our Beautiful town and make it a better place to shop, i agree with n Jack about the charities,But is it right for young children and teenagers to see this type of binge drinking happening in our town centre ?
And, of course, we don’t want to be interrupted in our unfettered frenzy of ‘Christmas’ spending by the possibility of giving a few pounds to charity, now do we?