Let Your Fingers Do the Walking

Pictured:Cllr Tony Scoggins (far left) with Crllr Ken Keith (centre) at the launch of the TASK directory for older people.

A simple, user-friendly directory of approved workmen will be made available to the older members of Knowsley’s community following a high profile launch recently.

Knowsley residents will be able ring a special telephone number in order to access the directory which will contain a list of approved traders who operate in a fair and honest way and whose work is of an acceptable standard. It is designed to help the more vulnerable members of the community to avoid unscrupulous or bogus callers.

The directory was the idea of the Knowsley Pensioners Advocacy (KPA) and was inspired by a similar scheme in York. Pat McCarthy of the KPA explained, “A number of agencies have worked together to make this possible: Age Concern, Victim Support, neighbourhood warden schemes, Merseyside Police and of course Knowsley Council Trading Standards who will be vetting the quality of traders’ work.

The directory should be up and running early in the new year.

Traders have been invited to become members of the scheme and sign an undertaking to adopt certain working practices. Traders will be assessed by Trading Standards Officers and will be given relevant references, ID cards and registration numbers.

There are 11 areas of work that the directory will cover – building work, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, roofing, drainage, decorating, glazing, security work, gardening and general handywork.