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No Cold Calling at Aged Miners' Homes

David Milliband MP launched the No Cold Calling Zone scheme with resident Mary Nicholson, Sergeant Neil Harvey, DAMHA President, Gordon Parkin and South Tyneside Councillor Joanne Bell.

The Association and partners came together to launch a new initiative to stop cold calling at the homes of older residents in South Shields.

The Aged Miners Homes and Bulmer House sheltered housing complex in Bulmer Road is the latest area of South Tyneside to become a designated No Cold Calling Zone. The scheme aims to discourage uninvited traders and bogus officials from knocking at residents’ homes and trying to sell them goods and services without a prior appointment.

Most people who call at residents’ homes are genuine, but some do arrive unannounced, which can be quite distressing for residents, particularly the elderly or vulnerable and can make them feel pressured into parting with their cash for services that are unnecessary. This scheme aims to prevent this from happening.

The strength of the scheme lies in the knowledge that everyone on the street feels the same way about unwanted visitors. Having a designated No Cold Calling Zone not only gives them peace of mind, but also sends a clear message to uninvited traders to stay away. The designated area has been marked out by signs. We hope that salespeople will respect them.

Although there is no law preventing cold calling, this voluntary scheme relies on residents in the area to say “no” to cold callers and to report them to Trading Standards when they enter the zone.

From left to right: Colin Howey (South Tyneside Council), Allison Jackson (Housing Officer), Pauline York (Head of Housing), Gordon Parkin (DAMHA President), Norman Hardy (DAMHA Vice President)