Local Business Owners - please read

Several local businesses have expressed concern about persistent emails or texts they have received from an organisation called Parish UK, asking them to renew their entry in the 'Speldhurst Parish Business Directory'. One business owner had received emails every day for the last 5 days. They had no knowledge of this business directory, or that they had submitted a previous listing, and felt upset to have been bombarded with emails from what they thought was their parish council.

Looking at the email forwarded to us, we can understand how local businesses may easily assume that this communication had come from their parish council and might then pay money to renew a business listing. Especially as the Parish UK homepage contains the same copy as our own website homepage.

To clarify, Parish UK are in no way linked with Speldhurst Parish Council. Speldhurst Parish Council does not have a business directory and would not contact local businesses asking them to pay money. Speldhurst Parish Council's website is an official 'gov.uk' website, and if you contact us or sign up to receive news updates from us, all of our emails will come from official 'gov.uk' email addresses.

Although the Kent Association of Local Councils have not been able to establish whether Parish UK is a legitimate organisation, they have advised not responding to their texts or emails, and blocking them if you don't want to hear from them any further.