Public would have to be balloted about postcode

A PUBLIC vote would have to be held for any decision on whether or not Caithness would receive its own postcode.

Royal Mail has said if people in the north Highlands wanted to scrap the KW Kirkwall postcode, a full ballot of addresses would have to be organised to determine if the proposal would receive enough support, which would include addresses in Orkney.

Highland MSP Rhoda Grant met representatives from Royal Mail to discuss a campaign organised by Thurso Community Council for Caithness and north Sutherland to receive its own postcode.

The community council has written to far north MP John Thurso asking for action to be taken to remove the KW postcode from addresses on mainland UK.

Mrs Grant met Royal Mail director of external relations Julie Pirone to discuss the possibility of changing the postcode, which has been attributed to Caithness being charged extra delivery charges due to a misconception it is an island.

Speaking after the meeting, she was informed all addresses in the KW area would need to take part in a ballot to agree to change in postcode.

"Following a productive meeting with Royal Mail, they have set out clearly what would need to be done to take make this change happen," she said.

"If local communities across Caithness and Sutherland feel that they receive a poor mail service then this could provide grounds for Royal Mail to examine a separate postcode.

"Operationally, Royal Mail says the shared KW postcode causes it no difficulties, which I think most people will be willing to accept, the majority of the problems attached with the shared postcode are due to misuse by separate organisations, be that delivery firms or government.

"I think it is important that we consult as widely as possible on this with individuals, community councils and business to fully understand the implications a change would bring.

"If there is clear evidence we can present to Royal Mail that the current setup is detrimental to its customers, then we can progress this.

"However, I am told it would require a full ballot of addresses in the postcode areas concerned, including Orkney."

Caithness councillors Roger Saxon and Neil MacDonald, together with Caithness and Sutherland area leader Deirdre Mackay, are working alongside Mrs Grant to better gauge the community response.

Mrs Grant is also seeking a special meeting of Thurso Community Council later this month to discuss the issue face to face.

Community council chairman Bob Earnshaw said he was also keen to hear the outcome of the discussions between Mrs Grant and Royal Mail before deciding what its next step would be.

However, he said it was the group’s belief that Caithness would be better off with a postcode of its own.

"We’ve have taken the matter up with John Thurso to find out what routes we should take regarding this issue," he said.

"Trading standards the in Inverness area are also supplying information to Westminster regarding the increased delivery charges to Caithness customers.

"We are extremely interested to meet with Rhoda Grant to discuss how her talks with Royal Mail went.

"Orkney seems to be the only heavily populated island which shares its postcode with the mainland and delivery firms are charging us accordingly.

"We will hold off going on the campaign trail until we have received more background information but we’re still backing the KW postcode to be changed."

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