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We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

takes.jamesomalley.co.uk

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Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#71

Post by londons_explore »

The simple solution here is a threat from the government to Royal Mail.

Give us your postcode file for free, or we will simply make up a new numbering scheme, send an address card to every house telling them of their new number with their next council tax bill, and postcodes will become a thing of the past.

The new numbering scheme will be unique to each house too, and have a check digit so the number alone is sufficient for 3rd party logistics companies like Amazon to use it for deliveries.

Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#72

Post by manarth »

arnsholt wrote: post #28
GJim wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> GPS coordinates *coordinates There are four GNSS constellations, of which GPS is only one...... a statement that negates the fact ones position on Earth may be calculated using a variety of other means. EDIT: In response to replies below; One isn't questioning the coordinate system (!), rather the assumption as to how they have been calculated.

In this context, it's not terribly hard to divine that they probably mean EPSG:4326 coordinates. I was going to comment that one of the ETRS89 UTM zones might be easier to work with, but on second thought the data almost certainly includes the DOMs if not the TOMs, so a global coordinate system is probably best.

The BAN provide fields `long` and `lat` which are WGS84, and also `x` and `y` which are coordinates expressed in "the appropriate local CRS" (without much elaboration on what that would be).

Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#74

Post by simonbarker87 »

NeoTar wrote: post #48

Some context, for people not located in the UK - A full British postcode typically aims to cover around 15 buildings (sometime a single building, sometimes a street of 50 houses). This is in contrast to many other postal code systems which cover relatively broad areas). Or to put it another way - UK - 2,643,732 codes, 1 code per 25 people, USA - 41,700 codes, 1 code per 8000 people, Germany - 8,200 codes, 1 code per…

Hence why a house number and postcode constitutes a complete address in the UK, we’ve sort of already got What Three Words with “a number and 5-7 characters” - not quite as catchy though

Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#76

Post by wordofx »

NeoTar wrote: post #48

Some context, for people not located in the UK - A full British postcode typically aims to cover around 15 buildings (sometime a single building, sometimes a street of 50 houses). This is in contrast to many other postal code systems which cover relatively broad areas). Or to put it another way - UK - 2,643,732 codes, 1 code per 25 people, USA - 41,700 codes, 1 code per 8000 people, Germany - 8,200 codes, 1 code per…

Singapore - 1 code per building.

Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#77

Post by beardyw »

simonbarker87 wrote: post #74
NeoTar wrote: post #48

Some context, for people not located in the UK - A full British postcode typically aims to cover around 15 buildings (sometime a single building, sometimes a street of 50 houses). This is in contrast to many other postal code systems which cover relatively broad areas). Or to put it another way - UK - 2,643,732 codes, 1 code per 25 people, USA - 41,700 codes, 1 code per 8000 people, Germany - 8,200 codes, 1 code per…

Hence why a house number and postcode constitutes a complete address in the UK, we’ve sort of already got What Three Words with “a number and 5-7 characters” - not quite as catchy though

We needed an ambulance off road in the middle of Richmond Park where a postcode would also not help. We didn't have WTW either, which they asked for and would have helped immensely.

Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#78

Post by lewispollard »

askvictor wrote: post #70

Our company started operating in the UK recently, and some of our customers were very surprised we didn't charge for a subscription for part of our product. The idea would have no legs in Australia (our homeland) but is completely normal in the UK. So, new revenue stream for us, and some learnings about the UK culture.

It is, but at least in my experience, we do it for the 10% discount and then immediately cancel the subscription every time we want to make a purchase.

Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#79

Post by michaelt »

robinhouston wrote: post #45

This is a long-running battle. Those with long memories may remember the skirmish 15 years ago, when a small group of developer-activists set up a website that allowed free access to postcode data (ernestmarples.com, named after the inventor of the modern British postcode system). Needless to say, it was rapidly shut down following threats of legal action by Royal Mail. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/oct…

The postcode-to-coordinate data is now freely available as "CodePoint Open"

So there's already data for people who want to know postcode AB10 1JL corresponds to the area around 57.14677,-2.09873

The PAF is a more detailed data source, as seen in https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode which can tell you that AB10 1JL specifically covers the addresses

102-104, Union Street, Aberdeen

82, Union Street, Aberdeen

Timpson Shoe Repairs Ltd, 86 Union Street, Aberdeen

Smart Mobile, 88 Union Street, Aberdeen

92 Union Street, Aberdeen

98 Union Street, Aberdeen

The PAF is useful if you want to provide a "quick address entry" option on your website - and to validate address data. But if you just want postcode-to-location conversion, that info is already available.

Re: We need to liberate the Postcode Address File

#80

Post by n4r9 »

londons_explore wrote: post #71

The simple solution here is a threat from the government to Royal Mail. Give us your postcode file for free, or we will simply make up a new numbering scheme, send an address card to every house telling them of their new number with their next council tax bill, and postcodes will become a thing of the past. The new numbering scheme will be unique to each house too, and have a check digit so the number alone is suffic…

The idea of the UK government attempting to do such a thing fills me with the utmost dread.
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