View Full Version : Out of touch councillor
orkneycadian
03-Apr-14, 21:41
Looks like this guy has never heard that the KW postcode is for Wick!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-26856638
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-26856638)
Calls have been made for Caithness and North Sutherland to be given a new postcode instead of one connected to Kirkwall, over the sea in Orkney.
Properties in and around Wick and Thurso have KW1 and KW14 postcodes.
Some residents say that while Royal Mail applies the same delivery charges to all UK addresses, other firms charge higher island costs.
Thurso councillor Roger Saxon said views were mixed locally on whether the KW postcode should be changed.
He said Royal Mail had to be convinced there was a sound business case before changing a code.
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has suggested Caithness could be given a new postcode with a link to John O'Groats.
But Rob Gibson, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said fairer parcel delivery charges and not a change in postcode was needed.
Surferstu85
03-Apr-14, 23:05
How do you mean ? the KW postcode currently serves both Wick Thurso and the north highlands and KIRKWALL KW. Do you know something we don't. As an internet shopper I think any measure we can bring in to give us fairer postal charges should be welcomed.
I have very serious reservations about Rob Gibson, I have found him unhelpful on more that one occasion to the point of rudeness and he seems to talk a lot of rubbish at times but he should know that Wick uses the KW post code as he has his office there !
You've missed the point: Councillor Gibson obviously does know Wick has the KW postcode, but some delivery companies don't. If I order an internet delivery and some bright spark in an IT department in Bracknell has programmed their system to think "KW = Orkney = extra ferry charge" then I lose out. It is a problem, though personally I think the cheaper way to do it is to badger the geeks who programme these things, if they deign to listen to us.
I've rarely had a problem with our KW postcode and additional postal/courier charges because I shop around. Over time I've learned who to avoid. Perhaps if someone started a Facebook page listing all those companies who do charge extra, that would go some way towards naming and shaming them. Parcelforce provide a universal delivery service accross the country so suppliers should be using them rather than some of the courier companies.
rogermellie
04-Apr-14, 09:10
article about postcodes on the One Show the other night, the story was that areas next door to each other in Bradford had different postcodes resulting in much higher car insurance for those supposedly living in higher premium areas - they weren't, but their postcode said otherwise
just a thought, but on the flipside maybe were getting cheaper insurance up here because of this issue ...
Green_not_greed
04-Apr-14, 12:39
Parcelforce provide a universal delivery service accross the country so suppliers should be using them rather than some of the courier companies.
Agreed and they are my preferred courier both in and out the county. :)
orkneycadian
04-Apr-14, 13:53
How do you mean ? the KW postcode currently serves both Wick Thurso and the north highlands and KIRKWALL KW. Do you know something we don't.
What I do know is that the KW postcode currently serves WICK (the post town) as well as Thurso, Caithness and Orkney, including Kirkwall and Stromness. You already have a postcode centred on one of the more southerly towns in the region. How much further south do you want it to be?
A good councillor should know that.
orkneycadian
04-Apr-14, 14:00
If I order an internet delivery and some bright spark in an IT department in Bracknell has programmed their system to think "KW = Orkney = extra ferry charge" then I lose out. It is a problem, though personally I think the cheaper way to do it is to badger the geeks who programme these things, if they deign to listen to us.
There is more to the postcode than the first letters. I don't believe for a second that getting something delivered in Paisley (PA1) is as expensive as Tiree (PA77). Unless you use Royal Mail of course, in which case it is.
just a thought, but on the flipside maybe were getting cheaper insurance up here because of this issue ...
because Caithness and Sutherland is a hornets nest of accidents and car crime isn't it?
gingernut
04-Apr-14, 16:18
because Caithness and Sutherland is a hornets nest of accidents and car crime isn't it?
Actually you're right about the accidents! Highland region in general has one of the worst accident rates in the UK particularly fatal accidents. Well done Mi16
johnny north
04-Apr-14, 20:17
What I do know is that the KW postcode currently serves WICK (the post town) as well as Thurso, Caithness and Orkney, including Kirkwall and Stromness. You already have a postcode centred on one of the more southerly towns in the region. How much further south do you want it to be?
A good councillor should know that.
A good Orcadian should know that the KW postcode has Kirkwall classed as the post town, not Wick. If Wick was the post town surely the postcode would be WK and not KW?
Squirrels
04-Apr-14, 20:30
Yes, I agree with Johnny North. The KW postcode is centred on Kirkwall NOT Wick which is why the letters are "KW" therefore as a result of this many companies believe that Caithness postal areas are in Orkney which will cost them extra to deliver therefore charge the caithness resident more for the service. I have in the past had many companies say "we don't deliver to the islands" and have had to explain to them that I was on the mainland of Scotland not in Orkney
Johnny North should be aware that the postcode is based in the area with the 1 as in KW1 is the Wick area thus that is the postcode area, Thurso KW14, Kirkwall KW16 are more distant.
I always assumed that WK had been used elsewhere and that was why Wick was given KW.
Courier deliveries cost more up here because the main couriers deliver to sub-contractors in Inverness who deliver up here, these sub-contractors are not going to charge any less if the postcode is changed.
It's not the couriers in Inverness who charge more, it's the couriers down south. You pay to get a parcel delivered from down south and you pay through the nose! A company i regularly deal with use ANC as their preferred courier. This shower charged an extortionate £55 plus VAT to deliver my parcel until i started to organise my own pickup. Price has now come down to £12-15 plus VAT depending on what i buy and it's STILL delivered through ANC network! work that one out!
johnny north
04-Apr-14, 22:27
Johnny North should be aware that the postcode is based in the area with the 1 as in KW1 is the Wick area thus that is the postcode area, Thurso KW14, Kirkwall KW16 are more distant.
I always assumed that WK had been used elsewhere and that was why Wick was given KW.
Courier deliveries cost more up here because the main couriers deliver to sub-contractors in Inverness who deliver up here, these sub-contractors are not going to charge any less if the postcode is changed.
According to Wikipedia the KW postcode area is also known as the Kirkwall postcode area (hence KW). If the postcode was based in the Wick area as you have said above then it would surely have been given the WK prefix as that doesn't appear to have ever been used before.
According to Wikipedia the KW postcode area is also known as the Kirkwall postcode area (hence KW). If the postcode was based in the Wick area as you have said above then it would surely have been given the WK prefix as that doesn't appear to have ever been used before.
Mebbies the post office decided to change WK to KW just in case postage for WiCk got confused with WC which is the postal prefix to somewhere in London??
rogermellie
05-Apr-14, 00:42
Actually you're right about the accidents! Highland region in general has one of the worst accident rates in the UK particularly fatal accidents. Well done Mi16
if you've already got a Compare The Market (other price comparison websites are available) account set up, go in and edit your personal details to alter your address ... try it with random postcodes from Dornoch, Tain, Invergordon, Alness, Inverness - i get cheaper insurance using my KW postcode than all these areas
sorry to let a few facts get in the way
(and if Kirkwall is the main post town, why isn't that KW1 instead of the lowly KW15 ? )
orkneycadian
05-Apr-14, 08:35
A good Orcadian should know that the KW postcode has Kirkwall classed as the post town, not Wick. If Wick was the post town surely the postcode would be WK and not KW?
Here is what every good Orcadian knows.....
http://forum.caithness.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=22340&d=1389362252
(http://forum.caithness.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=22340&d=1389362252)Edit - By the way, credit for the above information has to go to Norseman, who first published it on here in 2011, here;
http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?162519-KW-in-the-caithness-postcode&p=906469#post906469
orkneycadian
05-Apr-14, 08:53
Peculialrly, a typical postcode exception chart;
http://www.johnlewis.com/customer-services/information-about-delivery-methods-and-charges
(http://www.johnlewis.com/customer-services/information-about-delivery-methods-and-charges)
...says that they will not deliver selected furniture and home products to Wick (KW1) or Thurso (KW14), but will deliver to Forsinard (KW11)
That shows that its absolutely nothing to do with the postcode - It has enough detail in it to pin down your approximate location. Its the muppets in the courier companies that need sorting out. Either that, or mandatory use of Royal Mail!
Either that, or mandatory use of Royal Mail!
Ooh if that was imposed i can see the powers that be within the Royal Fail working on increasing the postage costs despite the universal agreement!
Looks like this guy has never heard that the KW postcode is for Wick!
I think you owe said councillor an apology as it seems it's you that are out of touch, there are a multitude of KW postcodes on the mainland with different numbers. Just because he's a Thurso councillor doesn't mean he can't speak for the rest of us.
Anyway the whole postcode change thing is nonsense and for once I have to agree with Gibson; it's not the postcode that needs changing but the attitude of companies that overcharge, most of which include the whole of Highland in their higher charges. They usually state Highland and Islands and if they list postcodes these include Inverness ones so changing ours won't make any difference except to save us having to explain we're on the mainland.
If anyone is actually interested in the actual reason some couriers charge more; it is because Inverness is as far north as any of the overnight hub couriers operate. Any further north requires transhipping to an additional vehicle, hence the sub contract agreements many have.
Mr P Cannop
05-Apr-14, 17:21
I think you owe said councillor an apology as it seems it's you that are out of touch, there are a multitude of KW postcodes on the mainland with different numbers. Just because he's a Thurso councillor doesn't mean he can't speak for the rest of us.
Anyway the whole postcode change thing is nonsense and for once I have to agree with Gibson; it's not the postcode that needs changing but the attitude of companies that overcharge, most of which include the whole of Highland in their higher charges. They usually state Highland and Islands and if they list postcodes these include Inverness ones so changing ours won't make any difference except to save us having to explain we're on the mainland.
they should look at their maps and they will see where Thurso is
Aye, Thurso is on an island in the middle of the sea......here's positive proof!
23392
This was sent to my work at the end of last year from a company in Fareham. It was freepost on Ebay, the goods cost me £14. Absolute bargain with freepost thrown in too. Must have cost the sender at least £14 to ship it to me!
To be fair thurso is on an island in the middle of the sea
To be fair thurso is on an island in the middle of the sea
No it's over to one side of the sea.
Looks like this guy has never heard that the KW postcode is for Wick!http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-26856638Calls have been made for Caithness and North Sutherland to be given a new postcode instead of one connected to Kirkwall, over the sea in Orkney.Properties in and around Wick and Thurso have KW1 and KW14 postcodes.Some residents say that while Royal Mail applies the same delivery charges to all UK addresses, other firms charge higher island costs.Thurso councillor Roger Saxon said views were mixed locally on whether the KW postcode should be changed.He said Royal Mail had to be convinced there was a sound business case before changing a code.Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has suggested Caithness could be given a new postcode with a link to John O'Groats.But Rob Gibson, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said fairer parcel delivery charges and not a change in postcode was needed.It's the usual bluff and bluster from the Saxophone. What else would you expect from the bluff and bluster specialist? Look how well he's blustered Tesco. :p
orkneycadian
07-Apr-14, 08:59
I think you owe said councillor an apology as it seems it's you that are out of touch, there are a multitude of KW postcodes on the mainland with different numbers.
Does anyone know how to do one of those facepalm smileys?
Yes, I know there are KW (Wick) postcodes over there - They start at KW1, Wick, the centre of the KW Postcode Area (see the PDF extract of the Postcode book posted somewhere above), then they go down the coast increasing in number, then up the west side of Caithness to KW14 in the vicinity of Thurso, then jump across the Firth to here in Orkney, where the last 3, KW15-17 are.
Kirkwall is not the heart of the KW postcode area. Please have a look at the Postcode Book extract posted above and see what it says in the circle in the topleft of the page - "KW - Wick"
Most of the KW postcode - KW1 to KW14 are in Caithness, with possibly some in Sutherland - Not sure, I haven't checked. Orkney has a mere 3 of them - KW15 to KW17
orkneycadian
07-Apr-14, 09:05
because Caithness and Sutherland is a hornets nest of accidents and car crime isn't it?
Nothing but any kind of crime, according to the guy who writes the diary encouraging very unbiblical behaviour. Nothing but crime, crime and more crime. Seems to be all that ever goes on in Caithness, and much of the Wick KW postcode area. I am very much looking forward to the day when our insurance premiums plummet, when the crime ridden county of Caithness are given their own WK postcode, thus alleviating us over here in what will become the newly formed Kirkwall KW postcode area of the burden of subsidising their obviously very many insurance claims.
Nothing but any kind of crime, according to the guy who writes the diary encouraging very unbiblical behaviour. Nothing but crime, crime and more crime. Seems to be all that ever goes on in Caithness, and much of the Wick KW postcode area. I am very much looking forward to the day when our insurance premiums plummet, when the crime ridden county of Caithness are given their own WK postcode, thus alleviating us over here in what will become the newly formed Kirkwall KW postcode area of the burden of subsidising their obviously very many insurance claims.
Aye, but it's a much better quality of crime here in Wick and actually considering there's 30,000 people in Caithness compared to 20,000 in the Orkneys, crime in caithness is lower per population. Some nasty peeps up there in the Orkneys......maybe independence from us Scots would be a good idea :D
orkneycadian
07-Apr-14, 09:32
.... in the Orkneys.....
Arghhhh! Geography crime as well! :eek:
I've rarely had a problem with our KW postcode and additional postal/courier charges because I shop around. Over time I've learned who to avoid. Perhaps if someone started a Facebook page listing all those companies who do charge extra, that would go some way towards naming and shaming them. Parcelforce provide a universal delivery service accross the country so suppliers should be using them rather than some of the courier companies.
I think people in general need to make themselves familiar with how the postcode is made up. Wick has its own postcode and Kirkwall has their own postcode. They only share the first two letters.
The first two letters of a postcode are the AREA, the number then represents the DISTRICT within that area, which for Wick is the number 1. That forms the outward half of the postcode, which lets the Post Office deliver to the appropriate sorting office. The second part of the post code is the inward half of the code and lets the sorting office group together letters for individual postal beats within the town. In the case of Wick the numbers are 4 for the Wick side and 5 for the Pulteneytown side. The last two letters then represent a group of houses, usually a street, and in the case of Cairndhuna Terrace the letters are BJ, with the next street up, Kennedy Terrace, represented by the letters BN. (Please, no BR0 NX postcode gags for these streets)
Most numbering systems within the postcode start from the main sorting office within the area, hence the Market Square in Wick, where the office used to be was KW1 4AB
To be fair to couriers they cannot always compete with a service that more or less had a monopoly and were formerly run as a public service. It has to be remembered that Parcelforce also have weight and size limits and cannot always be used for bigger items. Additional costs are sometimes incurred beyond Glasgow and Edinburgh and almost always beyond Inverness. It's not feasible for all couriers to have depots as far North as Inverness and it is almost always the case that AJG, DMS express or some other firm will pick up in Inverness on behalf of couriers from England. It all costs money and rather than moan about it, people should shop around.
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