Charity pests in Stafford? AKA Chuggers

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
New rules banning so called chuggers from Stafford Town Centre are now in force.

The new ‘Public Spaces Protection Orders’ (PSPOs) have been introduced to help tackle local issues and came in to force on Monday (7 December)

The move follows ongoing complaints from shoppers and workers around the town about being ‘harassed’ by groups who are trying to get people to sign up to direct debits for national charities. The groups are often referred to as chuggers.

In future the ‘chuggers’ – and utility company salespeople - will have to apply to the council for permission to come to the county town and be confined to a designated area only. Local charities can also contact the council directly.

Residents and businesses were asked for their views on proposed changes to the existing PSPOs as part of an extensive public consultation earlier this year. Stafford Borough Council has worked with a number of organisations including the police, town centre partnership and residents’ associations regarding the new rules.

The ‘Orders’ are designed to deal with problems in a specific area that are detrimental to the quality of life for the local community. A PSPO can ban or restrict certain behaviour and anyone not complying is given a warning - and can be fined for breaching it.

Signs are being put up in areas where the PSPOs are in force.

Councillor Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities and Health, said: “Residents have told us that they want our town centres to be welcoming places. They must be places where people can spend leisure time, shop, relax, or even set up a business and we don’t want that ruined by anti-social behaviour, alcohol related issues, or other forms of nuisance.

“One of the nuisances complained of by our residents and visitors is that these pushy salespeople employed by charities are harassing them, and retailers have mentioned that customers say they have been put off coming to town.

“But we will continue supporting charities through initiatives such as our small grants scheme and our funding agreements with the voluntary sector.”

He added “Thank you to all those who gave us their feedback as part of the consultation on these proposed changes. It is important we work with our partners and the community to make sure we do what we can to help people enjoy a better quality of life - as well as making our town centre an important and thriving place for all in our community to want to visit and spend time in.”

Full details on the new PSPOs can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/pspo
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
It seems to apply to the 'biggy shoes' lady (big issue) as she's taken to rocking up to our place now. I've had to ask her to leave, it's a shame as she's really no problem, unlike the chuggers.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Anyone know if this relates to the awful preachers too?
(k) Canvassing • Any person is prohibited from canvassing for the sale of services by means of direct debit, or for the purpose of obtaining an individual’s bank account details, or for the purpose of face-to-face fund raising, within the pedestrianised areas of Stafford and Stone town centres (as indicated on the attached plans at Appendix 1).

Unless they are explicitly asking for money to save your soul, it looks like they can continue asking for you to give everything to them.

But at least we don't have to listen to people asking for nice things for other people any more.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
To correct: we don’t have to listen to aggressive, paid sales people hired by a third party contractor who will often take the entire first year of donations as a fee.
That is, certainly, another way of looking at it.

But let me get this correct - 'have to listen'?

Still, whilst we are arguing the finer points of whatever you have 'beef' with - let's get on with ejecting all undesirables from the Town Centre.

Correct?
 
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Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
All you have to do is to make sure you remain desirable.

The sands, they shift, like ALL the time.

Don't let that worry you - i'm almost certain that YOU will be alright.

That's enough, right?

Just don't hold me to it.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
It seems to apply to the 'biggy shoes' lady (big issue) as she's taken to rocking up to our place now. I've had to ask her to leave, it's a shame as she's really no problem, unlike the chuggers.

I thought that Big Issue selling was to help homeless people get out of a difficult situation and be a step out. Bigger shoes has been selling for years and years. She can't still be homeless and in need? Doesn't someone else deserve a chance on that pitch to get out of the same situation?
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
She pitches outside Eccleshall Co-op as well.
I thought that Big Issue selling was to help homeless people get out of a difficult situation and be a step out. Bigger shoes has been selling for years and years. She can't still be homeless and in need? Doesn't someone else deserve a chance on that pitch to get out of the same situation?

Hmmm she has been in Stafford a number of years, but I'd never thought about her never moving on.

She was polite enough when we had to ask her to move last time, said she was sorry & had already been moved on from her usual place. I felt quite sorry for her, at least she's trying (or is she?)
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
I thought that Big Issue selling was to help homeless people get out of a difficult situation and be a step out. Bigger shoes has been selling for years and years. She can't still be homeless and in need? Doesn't someone else deserve a chance on that pitch to get out of the same situation?

The criteria to be homeless to sell the big issue was removed in 2011...
 

Tilly

Well-Known Forumite
If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying Circus in Town, Stafford Common, Saturday, that's advertising

If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into town, that's promotion

Also cruel

If the elephant walks through the Mayor's garden and tramples the flowers and the Newsletter writes a story about it, that's publicity

If you get the Mayor to laugh about it, that's Public Relations, PR

If Stafford folk go to the circus and its additional stalls and they spend money because the circus explained how much fun it would be, that's sales

And if you planned the whole lot, that's marketing
 
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kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Hmmm she has been in Stafford a number of years, but I'd never thought about her never moving on.

She was polite enough when we had to ask her to move last time, said she was sorry & had already been moved on from her usual place. I felt quite sorry for her, at least she's trying (or is she?)

That's sort of my point. If the point of selling the big issue is to get back on your feet then she's rather milking it. I dunno, just feels like it should be a step to a proper job and the fact she hasn't moved to one in goodness knows how many years prevents other genuinely needy Stafford people getting the chance to improve their lot.
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Biggy Shoe has also turned up at a couple of sites in Penkridge on a number of occasions.
 
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