PLEA FOR BETTER ADVICE FOR OUR VULNERABLE PEOPLE (21/11/05)

Politicians from all sides united this week to ask the Executive at Somerset County Council to reinstate consumer advice services for some of the most vulnerable Somerset residents.

Somerset County Council is the only local authority out of fifteen in the South West region that no longer provides a consumer advice service, after it was cut in 2004.

Instead the Council opted to rely on a telephone and email service run by the Department for Trade and Industry.

There are strong concerns that such an arrangement puts vulnerable people, such as the elderly, at a disadvantage, as they are the people who are most likely to need a personal visit from a trained adviser.

Anthony Trollope-Bellew, Chair of the committee that led the investigation into Somerset’s consumer advice services, said “I am very pleased that we have cross-party support on this important issue. We all know that savings have to be achieved, but not at the expense of our most vulnerable people.”

“The last thing anyone wants is for rogue traders and the like to get away with preying on the weakest in our society. We hope that the Administration will listen to our request.”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1. This release follows the 14 November meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Sub-Committe Papers are available from www.somerset.gov.uk

2. For further information, please contact Anthony Trollope-Bellew, Chair of Environment Scrutiny Sub-Committee, 01984 618254