CHARITY fundraisers known as ‘chuggers’ are now being strictly controlled in several Cheshire East towns, but are still free to operate as they like in Middlewich.


Cheshire East Council have now introduced strict guidelines to control the fundraisers who operate in high streets or door to door persuading members of the public to give financial support to a charity by signing up to a direct debit.


The towns which are given extra protection are Macclesfield, Crewe, Congleton, Nantwich, Wilmslow and Knutsford.


The towns will have strict limits on the numbers of fundraisers allowed to operate at a specific time, the days of the week they can be present and the streets they can work in.


Cheshire East Council said that Middlewich is not affected by the new restrictions as it does not seem to have a problem with ‘chuggers’.


A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “Middlewich wasn’t included because we have had no complaints from there.”


But despite Middlewich not having as busy a high street as its surrounding towns, residents say they are still approached by the charity fundraisers.


Alan Langley, from Glastonbury Drive in Middlewich, said: “They have been in the Bullring and in Morrisons. I seen one bloke in Morrisons try to give some money to them and they said no you have to set up a direct debit.


“I knew the council would say that it isn’t a problem in Middlewich but I have seen them about and they’ll probably come more now with the restrictions elsewhere.


“I suppose they don’t want to put people off going shopping in Macclesfield. I thought it would be better to bring in a borough-wide thing if they are going to do it.”