Councillor urges North Warwickshire people to be on guard against rogue tarmac company
A local councillor has urged people to be on their guard against a rogue company claiming to be tarmac specialists after his own family nearly fell victim to the scam.
Warwickshire County Councillor Ray Sweet, chair of the county’s area committee, has warned people to be on the lookout for a gang of traders who claim to be affiliated to the Highways Agency and sub-contracted by the county council. His own wife was approached by the gang.
The scammers claim to have a van filled with tarmac which the traders claim they cannot return to the yard with so will sell it for £15m2 rather than £50 m2 .
The gang, which have been reported operating in Baddesley Ensor and Baxterley, did persuade one family to have their drive resurfaced. The bill, following an estimate of £300, came in at £5000 and, when the family queried this, were subjected to intimidation.
Councillor Sweet said: “I urge people in North Warwickshire to be alert to this gang. They are operating illegally and have absolutely no affiliation to any agencies; nor are they sub-contracted by Warwickshire County Council.
“If anybody sees them in operation, I would urge them to contact the county’s trading standards division immediately and report it.”
Councillor Sweet’s comments come in the wake of a period in which crime has fallen across the borough in many key fields such as domestic burglary, violent crime, vehicle crime and commercial burglary. The performance has been so impressive that the Home Office wrote to members of the local community safety partnership to congratulate them on their success.
Councillor Sweet added: “We have been very successful in bringing crime down in North Warwickshire so this gang is extremely unwelcome. However, if people are diligent, I would be confident that they will be moving out of the area very soon.
“The best way to rid your area of the scourge of rogue traders is not to give them any business. I advise everyone not to have any dealings with doorstep traders.”
Anybody with any information or who is suspicious about a gang who might be the tarmaccers should report this to the Consumer Direct Adviceline, who work alongside trading standards departments, on 08454 040506.
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Media contact: Cllr Ray Sweet on 01827 712 810 or 07961 156450