A BID to raise awareness of protections from dodgy builders has won the backing of councillors with one noting the difficulty of checking roof repairs.
Torfaen Borough Council agreed it should raise awareness and promote advice available to residents at risk of bad practices from rogue traders in the building trade.
It was put forward by Labour councillor for New Inn, Nick Byrne, who said: “The impact on people impacted by these traders can be profound, losing them money, leaving them with unfinished or substandard work or products, and impacting their self-confidence.”
The motion gained unanimous support at the council’s June 10 meeting and Reform UK councillor for Trevethin and Penygarn, Stuart Keyte, said: “It is very difficult to check someone has done a job on your roof unless you want to climb up yourself.”
Labour member for Pontnewydd Stuart Ashley said he was a former officer with the care and repair service and would recommend it, for older and disabled residents, and also said the Citizens Advice Bureau “do a brilliant job” in supporting people.
But Upper Cwmbran Labour member Lucy Williams said Citizens Advice can be “quite stretched and not easy to get hold of” and questioned if the motion should have more detail and what actions the council would take to raise awareness and offer support.
Leader, Labour’s Anthony Hunt, agreed to bring a report back to the council on how it will take the actions of the motion forward.
Residents can report traders to the trading standards service, via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133, which also provides advice and support, and all complaints are reviewed by officers who can start investigations in response.