County Matters
In November The County Police Committee will be replaced by an Elected Police Commissioner. This person will be responsible for the setting of the Police Budget, Priorities and Policies of the Cumbria Constabulary.
One of the Candidates is a local person Richard Rhodes from Staveley-in-Cartmel who has a wealth of experience in the criminal justice system as a former JP and member of the Probation Board.
The work scheduled for road improvements on the A592 at Fell Foot should have been completed by the middle of September. I have asked our Traffic Management Engineer to set up speed monitoring of this road once the work is complete and I will pass on the results to residents and the local Parish Council.
Good news for our youngsters the extra equipment at the Skateboard Park on the Promenade that I mentioned in my last report was installed on the 22nd August by Philip Dalton and his team.
Cumbria Trading Standards and Cumbria Constabulary are commencing a consultation process with residents of Priory Lane, Kents Bank, Grange over Sands regarding the feasibility of establishing a No Cold Calling Zone for the area.
No Cold Calling Zones are intended to discourage doorstep salespersons from visiting the area without prior appointment and will be clearly signposted to promote the message that cold callers are not welcome. Each household will be given a window sticker stating that ‘the residents do not want uninvited traders to visit their property’ and an information pack.
If you live in close proximity to the official No Cold Calling Zone Trading Standards will also provide doorstep stickers and an information card which aims to raise awareness of cold calling and provides useful contact numbers for reporting suspicious activity.
Cold callers can include rogue traders who may be unqualified workmen offering to make repairs to property or carry out gardening jobs or selling goods e.g. disability aids, household products – often of poor quality and/or high cost.
Residents of these zones feel empowered to say ‘No’ to doorstep callers with the support of Trading Standards and Cumbria Constabulary. Residents looking for reputable traders to carry out work to their property are advised to get three quotes from local companies, ask for recommendations from friends and relatives or check out Trading Standards Buy With Confidence Scheme at www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or phone 08454 04 05 06.
Regards
Bill Wearing
Conservative County Councillor for the Grange Division.
Tel: 015395 32482