Change of postcode to be addressed at meeting
ROYAL Mail is to hold discussions this week to look at proposals to end the use of the KW postcode in Caithness and north Sutherland with Highland MSPs.
Last week, Thurso Community Council revealed it was planning to write to far north MP John Thurso to start a campaign to scrap the Kirkwall postcode in the north Highlands, which has been blamed on the area receiving increased delivery charges and national firms thinking Caithness is an island.
The plan sparked a huge debate on the North of Scotland Newspapers Facebook site with people voicing their support for the campaign but also many others believing a change of postcode would not make any difference to delivery costs.
The meaning of KW also prompted debate with some people claiming KW did not stand for Kirkwall at all.
It was suggested KW stood for Wick with the letters WK rearranged, while others claimed KW stood for Kirkwall and Wick.
Royal Mail spokeswoman Jennifer Bird confirmed KW did stand for Kirkwall and its director of external relations, Julie Pirone, was planning to hold a meeting this week at Holyrood to discuss the postcode’s future use.
"The postal address is a sorting and routing instruction for Royal Mail and not always a geographically accurate description of where a property is located," she said. The post town is also important for addresses as that is where mail is processed before delivery and, historically, KW stands for Kirkwall.
"I can confirm that a representative from Royal Mail is meeting with the MSPs this week to discuss the matter."
Highlands and Islands MSPs Rhoda Grant and David Stewart have arranged discussions with Royal Mail at the Scottish Parliament to discuss viability, advantages and disadvantages of establishing a new Caithness and Sutherland postcode.
Ms Grant said it was important that all pros and cons were explored in such a major change but said she would support the campaign.
"I fully support the campaign to establish a separate postcode for Caithness and Sutherland and I think it could help end the unfair delivery charges parts of the Highland mainland are subjected to with regard to high delivery charges associated with sharing an island postcode," she said.
"A change in postcode has been done before in Morven and there are positives and negatives attached to it.
"I think it is important to meet with Royal Mail and to sit down and properly discuss the viability, advantages and any potential disadvantages this could bring."
Mr Stewart said it may not end the problem of extra delivery charges but a change of postcode could be a step in the right direction.
"The idea of giving Caithness and Sutherland its own postcode strikes me as a positive move," he said. "Obviously this could be a long process and
won’t solve all the issues overnight,
however, I think in the long-term this could be a positive move for the north Highlands beyond simply delivery charges."
Caithness and Sutherland area leader, Deirdre Mackay, who has campaigned for years against high delivery charges in the north was keen to stress that a separate postcode may not resolve all the issues and work alongside business would also be required.
"It is right and proper that we make sure this is a viable move and that there won’t be any negative consequences for the area before pursuing it," she said.
"Speaking to trading standards and businesses it’s clear that postcodes are not the only problem in delivery charges and we also need to look beyond this towards encouraging business to adopt principles which would ensure everyone will get a fair delivery price."
Thurso Community Council’s idea to start a campaign came as the town’s post office was temporarily closed for refurbishment.
Post Office headquarters in London advised customers to use their nearest branch, which it claimed was in Longhope on Orkney.
It also claimed Longhope was in Stromness and not on South Walls.