Caitness demands its own postcode

FED-up residents who blame the Kirkwall postcode for extra charges on deliveries are campaigning for Caithness and north Sutherland to get its own postcode.

Thurso Community Council wants to see the KW code replaced with a new prefix for the far north.

For years, people have criticised delivery companies for excluding the north Highlands from standard UK mainland delivery charges and applying surcharges to deliveries to homes and businesses in the area.

Last month, the Post Office further proved its lack of understanding of local geography when it advised customers to use Longhope – which it claimed is in Stromness – when the post office at Thurso is closed for refurbishment.

Community council chairman Bob Earnshaw said the mistake highlighted the fact that many organisations consider Caithness to be an island – and residents are paying the price for it.

He said it was now time for action and wants to see the KW postcode removed from all addresses on the mainland.

"This is an issue which has been bothering a lot of organisations across Caithness who have become quite concerned about it," he said.

"The post office situation has brought this to a head, but there’s also the serious situation of receiving parcels from the south where we are forced to pay island fees."

The retired council official added: "We are planning to put something together to get our points over to address the situation.

"We want something which will identify Caithness and north Sutherland as part of the mainland and the KW postcode scrapped for the north Highlands."

The KW postcode covers the Orkney Islands, Caithness and the Sutherland areas of Bettyhill, Brora, Golspie, Helmsdale and Kinbrace. The rest of the Highlands is covered by the IV postcode, while the Western Isles has its own HS postcode.

Thurso Highland Councillor Roger Saxon said he would back the campaign.

"Shetland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands do not share their postcodes with the UK mainland but Orkney shares its postcode with us," he said.

"I would back a campaign to create our own postcode, but I would go as far as campaigning to boycott the KW postcode entirely.

"The United States can work their system with just six digits, but the UK system does not work for us here."

Royal Mail said it was unusual for an area to try to change its postcode but stated initials did not necessarily reflect geographical or administrative boundaries.

A spokeswoman said: "Royal Mail uses the street name, post town and postcode as its main routing tool for mail deliveries in a range of postcode areas, especially in rural areas.

"For example, it is clear that Wick on the mainland has a postcode using the KW1 sector and Orkney uses the KW15, 16 and 17 sectors.

"We are not aware of any complaints regarding the KW postcode being extended to the north Highlands.

"Royal Mail does not normally change postcodes unless there is a pressing operational reason to do so though, under the code of practice for postal addressing, there is a process for customers to request a change."

Far north MP John Thurso has supported a campaign by Lib Dem colleague Sir Robert Smith to force online retailers to make it clearer to consumers if they want to charge extra to deliver to parts of Scotland.

John Thurso said he would also support a campaign by Thurso Community Council for a new postcode for Caithness.

But with households in the IV area also being charged extra delivery charges, he added he was not sure it would be the whole answer.

"There are a number of Inverness postcodes which many delivery companies say is too far away to charge mainland rates, he said.

"Different companies have different lines on the map. I have been campaigning to get a uniform mainland charge which must include IV and KW.

"If KW was changed in Caithness to a new postcode, companies may still add extra costs along with IV addresses.

"But I equally agree if KW is so confusing, then it is time Caithness had its own postcode."

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