FACE-TO-FACE paid charity fundraisers operating in Crewe and Nantwich will be more strictly controlled following an agreement with a regulatory body.

Face-to-face paid charity fundraisers – commonly known as ‘chuggers’ – operate in busy high streets or door to door and persuade members of the public to donate to a charity by signing up to a direct debit.

Now, chuggers operating in Cheshire East will be strictly controlled, following an agreement with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA).

The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association operates a code of fundraising practice and aims to ensure street fundraisers adhere to the agreement.

A spokesman for Crewe Town Council said: “Crewe Town Council is pleased that there is now an agreement to manage the activities of face to face fundraisers in Crewe. 

“We have had complaints for a while about shoppers being pressured on the street by fundraisers, sometimes called ‘chuggers’, trying to persuade them to set up monthly payments. 

“The Town Council made contact with the PFRA six months ago following complaints and concerns about these activities.

“We were happy to hold off from seeking a local agreement in Crewe to allow Cheshire East to coordinate a wider agreement including other towns that had similar concerns.”

Crewe and Nantwich town centres will have strict limits on the numbers of chuggers allowed to operate at a specific time, the days of the week they can operate and the streets they can work in.

The council spokesman explained: “We now have an agreement limiting their operation in Crewe to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“There will be no more than four fundraisers in total, and no more than two in the same area of the town centre.”

Fundraisers must not pressure or pester potential customers or follow them in the street.

The strict measures also prevent them from standing within three metres of a shop doorway, cashpoint, pedestrian crossing or station entrance.

They are also banned from speaking with people under the influence of drink or drugs, or those who are unable to give informed consent through illness.

The new protocol for controlling street fundraisers comes into effect on June 22, when charities will be told when and where their representatives can operate.

The site agreement does not apply to volunteers making traditional coin collections.

The Crewe Town Council spokesman added: “The Council does not want to discourage people raising money for worthy causes, and would emphasise that we have never had any complaints about cash collections.

“Going forward our role will be to act as the initial point of contact for complaints and we would invite anyone concerned to contact the council after the agreement goes live on June 22.”