This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-36084479
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Birmingham 'chuggers' to be cut by 70% in trial | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The number of street-based charity fundraisers or "chuggers" in Birmingham will be cut by 70% during a three-month trial. | |
| At present, up to 42 fundraisers can work across the city centre at a time but the city council will reduce it to 12 from mid-June to September. | |
| A report revealed "high levels of annoyance" from people being "constantly approached" resulted in them avoiding parts of the city. | A report revealed "high levels of annoyance" from people being "constantly approached" resulted in them avoiding parts of the city. |
| New limits were agreed on Thursday. | |
| Councillors and regulators agreed to the three-month trial, which will be reviewed. | |
| Latest on "chugger" decision, plus more Birmingham stories | Latest on "chugger" decision, plus more Birmingham stories |
| Currently, up to six chuggers can work across one of seven zones in the city centre at any one time - totalling 42. | Currently, up to six chuggers can work across one of seven zones in the city centre at any one time - totalling 42. |
| By comparison, Manchester has four zones with a maximum of five permits, so there are never more than fundraisers 20 in operation at a time. | By comparison, Manchester has four zones with a maximum of five permits, so there are never more than fundraisers 20 in operation at a time. |
| The maximum number permitted in Liverpool is 10 and Sheffield 14. | The maximum number permitted in Liverpool is 10 and Sheffield 14. |
| Birmingham's 'chugger zones' | Birmingham's 'chugger zones' |
| How many chuggers are permitted in your area? | How many chuggers are permitted in your area? |
| The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) works with councils to manage street and door step fundraising - setting rules on how, when and where they can work. | The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) works with councils to manage street and door step fundraising - setting rules on how, when and where they can work. |
| The PFRA's plan will reduce the number of chuggers allowed in Birmingham to four a day across three patches - with just two areas on a Wednesday. | |
| Face-to-face fundraising will be banned on New Street on Wednesdays and Saturdays. | |
| And Broad Street and Victoria Square will be out of bounds. | |
| Chris Neville, the council's head of licensing, hopes a further reduction in chuggers will eventually be agreed. | |
| Chief executive Peter Hills-Jones said: "We welcome the decision which will lead to a significant reduction in fundraising numbers for Birmingham." | |