Sales ban appeal rejected by council

FILEY residents have been told to forget any idea of a town-wide ban on ‘cold calling’.

The notion was mooted at Wednesday evening’s police meeting by irate residents, who fear shady door-to-door salespeople are using the tactic to try and fleece pensioners out of their savings.

However, despite the suggestion proving a popular one with residents at the meeting, an official from North Yorkshire County Council immediately ruled out the idea.

‘Cold calling’ is a technique used by companies, usually doorto-door, contacting people blindly on the off chance of making a sale. A high-pressure sales technique is usually deployed.

Trevor Ford, from trading standards, said the rule would be impossible to implement, saying that not only would it take universal support from the town, but, more importantly, it would hinder legitimate sales-people.

“You have to remember there’s two sides to every story, and we have to protect the rights of traders just as much as the customer.”

Mr Ford did say that the county council would be willing to consider applications for no-cold calling zones for single streets.

However, he again emphasised that the entire street would have to be behind the idea and that each case would be considered purely on a “case by case basis”.