A STREET in Pucklechurch is among the latest to be designated a no cold calling zone.

Dennisworth is one of seven new areas to be set up against unwanted doorstep traders.

South Gloucestershire Council is supporting residents to establish the zones in Dennisworth and Crown Gardens in Warmley, Fountains Drive in Barrs Court and Oaklands Drive, St Annes Drive, St Helens Drive and Lodge Drive in Oldland Common.

They are already no cold calling zones in 110 streets in the district, including in Yate and Chipping Sodbury, covering more than 4,700 properties.

Visitors to the zones will see street signs on lamp posts to warn cold callers, and residents will be provided with information packs and a door or window sticker to display. The aim is to protect residents as well as empowering them to refuse traders selling at their door, through advice and information.

Residents are encouraged to report breaches of the zones to trading standards and the police as traders who ignore the zones could find themselves being arrested for committing an offence.

Cllr Claire Young, (Lib Dem, Westerleigh), chairman of the council’s communities committee, said: “These zones are great for the local community.

“They not only help to deter rogue traders and annoying unsolicited callers, but also arm local residents with the confidence, advice and information they need to refuse traders selling at their door.

“Research has shown that there is a link between cold calling and doorstep crime, such as distraction burglary and rogue trader activity, and this scheme is proving a popular and effective way that the council, the police and the community can work together to combat this type of nuisance.”

A community-led version, a community doorstep control zone, is also being launched in Ferndale Avenue, Longwell Green after Oldland Parish Council approached trading standards wanting to help protect their residents from unscrupulous doorstep traders.

Victoria Hicks, Oldland Parish Council clerk, added: “Oldland Parish Council is working alongside South Gloucestershire Council’s trading standards team to eliminate the problem of cold calling in our local community.

“This new community doorstep control zone will address a need identified by our parishioners. The parish council is working on a plan to add new areas to the zone to provide greater protection particularly to the elderly and vulnerable.”

Trading Standards warn residents to treat all cold callers with caution and suspicion, and to report such instances to the department through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06.