A COMMUNITY champion who is looking for volunteers to help run a credit union called for action to tackle loan sharks who prey on vulnerable people.
Cllr Tudor Pole (pictured) told Stockton Heath Parish Council: “We need to get rid of loan sharks who prey on vulnerable people like single mothers and those down on their luck.
“High street banks won’t lend money to ‘risky people’ so they have to go to other lenders.”
He said often people who could not make the agreed payments had the cost of their loan raised substantially, and in extreme cases were threatened with violence by the lenders.
Cllr Pole, who helped launch the Stockton Heath Festival, is seeking volunteers to help set up a Warrington South Credit Union – mainly to serve people in Stockton Heath and Appleton. He said the projects were run by volunteers and offered money at good rates to those in need.
Anyone interested in helping out should contact Jean Bullock on 01925 211274.
Two information days are being held to publicise the scheme at St Margaret’s Community Hub, Lindley Avenue, Latchford. They are on Friday September 23 from 1.30 to 4pm, and Saturday September 24, from 10.30 to 4pm.
