Chuggers – ward question (Shaw and Crompton)

The Leader will doubtless recall that I raised my concerns about the high-pressure practices of so called ‘chuggers’ (short for ‘charity muggers’) in the town centre in this chamber almost two years ago – in October 2013.

They are still a problem in Oldham Town Centre, in my opinion, but they have also appeared to have moved to pastures new.

In Shaw and Crompton, my ward colleagues and I have received increasing complaints from constituents about ‘chuggers’ who are calling door to door to residents, unannounced, and seeking to raise regular donations for whichever charity they are acting for at that time.

The old and the vulnerable are feeling very pressured by these ‘chuggers’, and a number have ‘felt obliged’ to make a contribution they can ill afford and did not really want to make.

In light of recent instances in Shaw and Crompton, can I ask the relevant Cabinet Member whether he or she will be prepared to work with local Ward Members to curtail the unwanted activities of fundraisers operating in Shaw and Crompton and no doubt elsewhere in the Borough?

Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Opposition and Lib Dem Group Oldham Council, Member for Shaw Ward  – 9 September 2015