Town councillor Jill Hood is calling for action on charity collectors operating in Stone High Street.
She has submitted a member’s motion to the town council’s General Purposes Committee, which meets on Thursday evening (2nd July).
It reads: “It is becoming an increasingly alarming problem in Stone High Street with what are commonly known as “Chuggers” their slang title comes from charity muggers. I often sit in the High Street and watch chuggers (sometimes as many as five or six) stop members of the public to try and get them to sign up to and donate to the charity they are fund raising for. When a “no” is given they follow the person in the High Street trying to persuade them to change their mind. People feel threatened and intimidated which could put them and others from coming to shop in our High Street. I would like to ask the Town Clerk to contact the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association Chief Executive to see how to prevent the chuggers operating the stop and sign up methods used by them in our High Street.”
The meeting is open to the public and there’s lots more on the agenda, which you can see here – General Purposes Committee agenda, 2nd July 2015
A meeting of the full council, and the planning committee, will also be held on 2nd July. Links to agendas here:
Town Council agenda, 2nd July 2015
Planning committee agenda, 2nd July 2015
Public participation
If there is anything in the agendas for the General Purposes Committee or Planning Committee that you wish to speak to the committee about, you need to give the town clerk, Les Trigg, at least two working days’ notice.
For meetings of the full council, residents can address the Council on any issue that concerns them which falls within the Council’s remit. Residents who wish to contribute need to contact the town clerk at least 10 working days before the meeting to allow time for the item to be included within the agenda.
The town clerk can be contacted on 01785 619740 or by emailing clerk@stonetowncouncil.org.uk
More information here on public participation at Stone Town Council meetings here – Stone Town Council public participation
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1 comment
Bill
Copy of my email to Mr Les TRigg Clerk of Stone Town Council.
Dear Mr Trigg, On reading the article about ‘Chuggers’ on Stone High Street (Which I have no particular sway for or against) I would like the council to debate how to rejuvenate the high street, including setting a limit on the number of charity shops in Stone. We have around a dozen at the moment and although there should always be a place for Charity both in our hearts and on the High Street this is too many. I suggest you set a limit of say 3 or 4. Everyone knows these charity shops have a trading advantage over other retail outlets because they pay lower rent, no business rates and apart from their managers don’t need to pay either for stock or staff wages. I would support a policy that allows new traders to open up who wish to retail products or services not already available on the high street. These traders should be given priority, reduced rents & business rates and any other encouragement they need to succeed. Further all trading barriers should be removed including access to vehicular traffic during the day between 10am & 4pm until further notice as well as making all the car parking in Stone free to all visitors. Our High Street is dying. Please take action before it is too late.
Best Wishes
Bill Hilton