The Bryn estate in Pontllanfraith has been made a no cold-calling zone in a bid to stop doorstep crime.
Rogue home improvement firms, bogus officials and bogus charities will have a difficult time snaring people now the ban on knocking on residents’ doors is in place.
A large proportion of the residents living in the 800 homes covered by the zone are more than 60-years-old and the area has been known to attract bogus callers.
More than 98% of people living in the area were keen to see the zone introduced.
While the zone does not make doorstep calling illegal, the informal ban makes it clear that it is not welcome.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Community Safety Wardens have erected signs on street lampposts and window stickers have been given to residents to discourage doorstep callers and rogue traders.
Councillor Judith Pritchard, cabinet member for social services said: “The implementation of no cold-calling zones such as this clearly illustrate how the council, police and the community can work together to protect some of our most vulnerable residents against the threat of doorstep crime.”
PC Marc Sturgess, Pontllanfraith ward officer, said: “A large of number of residents in this area are elderly and the introduction of the no cold-calling zone will hopefully provide them with further reassurance and confidence to say no to doorstep callers that they don’t know.
“It’s important that residents feel safe and secure in their own homes, and the use of signs and stickers will make it clear to doorstep callers that they are not welcome in the area.”
The Bryn estate in Pontllanfraith is only the second area in Caerphilly County Borough to introduce a doorstep ban after Trethomas had its in November 2008.