Latest news with #postcode
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Equality street! The suburban road where identical homes on one side are 'worth £100k more' than the other
Homeowners have called on Royal Mail to adopt the postcode of a neighbouring suburb where average house prices are significantly higher. A cluster of locals in Thornbury, a Bradford suburb straddling the city's eastern edge, have launched a bold bid to trade in their postcode to increase their house prices by £100k. They say they are being 'penalised' by having the city's undesired BD3 postcode despite technically falling in the council jurisdiction of neighbouring Leeds. Instead, they want to adopt the LS28 postcode of Pudsey, which carries a more desirable reputation. But neighbours on Gain Lane, the vast majority of whom are covered by Bradford council, have branded the move 'snobbish' and a thinly veiled attempt to 'pretend they don't live where they do.' One resident, firmly living in the BD3 postcode plagued by high crime rates, said: 'They're desperate to keep up appearances. 'Just because you buy a few hanging baskets and call your house 'The Willows' doesn't mean you live in Pudsey or Leeds. 'You're still in Bradford at the end of the day.' Bradford's BD3 postcode covers some of the city's most troubled and poverty-stricken communities. It ranks among the worst postcodes in the country related to car theft and dangerous driving offences. Whereas the neighbouring LS28 postcode covers the gentrified Leeds suburbs of Farsley, Calverley and Pudsey - represented in parliament by chancellor Rachel Reeves. House prices in the well-heeled commuter hubs are tens of thousands of pounds higher than in Bradford. Campaigners say they are being unfairly punished for having a BD3 suffix, despite technically falling under Leeds City Council's jurisdiction. They say that they are having to pay out for higher car and home insurance policies as a consequence, while also having to ensure deflated house prices. Lynda Berry, 59, admitted she wanted the LS28 postcode because it was 'posher'. She said: 'We're paying more in council tax and then getting hit again with higher car and home insurance. 'And we don't even get the benefits of being in Leeds, even though we technically are. 'It's frustrating. I understand there has to be a border somewhere, but we're getting penalised for being in BD3.' Russell Robinson, 69, who has lived in the area for over six decades, says the postcode saga has dragged on for years - despite multiple attempts to get it changed. He said: 'If you're in BD3, you're paying hundreds more for car insurance because it's one of the worst postcodes in the country for car crime and bad driving. 'When I used to go to an insurance broker, they'd look at my postcode and say, 'If you lived in LS28, it'd be £200 cheaper.' 'For my Freelander I have to pay £595, fully comprehensive. For my other Defender quite a few companies wouldn't insure it all. 'It's not like I'm going Trans-European or up mountains in it. It's just the Bradford postcode.' Mr Robinson, a retired council worker, revealed that when he sold his father's house - which also technically fell under Leeds but still carried a Bradford postcode - it sold for less than equivalent houses with an LS28 address. He said: 'We got £190,000 for it, something like that. It was a well-built stone house. 'They're paying £200,000 for much less in Pudsey - small gardens, one car on the drive. 'It's just the LS postcode.' According to Rightmove data, house prices in BD3 had an overall average of £120,323 over the last year. In leafier LS28, the average was £262,061 over the last year. Gurvinder Singh, 59, has lived in Gain Lane since 1989. He said he had pleaded with the council to swap his postcode to Leeds. He said: 'Our house prices are low. Our insurance is high. 'There a difference of around £100,000. If our house was in LS28 it would go for £260,000. Here there's a limit of about £160,000. 'Because of BD3, the prices are not high. We keep spending money on the house but we're not going to get the full benefit.' Asked if he tells people he is from Leeds or Bradford, Mr Singh, who works for Bradford-based baker Hovis, added: 'Leeds. Sorry to say, but Leeds. 'Bradford has a very bad reputation, especially BD3. 'I've caught drug dealers right outside the front of my house. I've had drugs thrown in my garden during a police chase. 'LS28 is like a different world. It's much better. The people are sensible, there are no idiot drivers on that side.' One resident further down Gain Lane, firmly within Bradford Council's boundaries, said the campaign was 'classist'. The woman, who would not be named for fear of riling neighbours, said: 'My house is in Bradford and I'm proud to be from Bradford. 'I think it's people trying to pretend they don't live where they do, to make them look and feel better. 'It's still Bradford, love.' Priyan Welikandu, 56, said his car insurance premiums had soared simply because of the BD3 postcode - despite paying all his bills to Leeds. He said: 'The car insurance is very high for no real reason. I've had this smaller car for 20 years, no claims, no accidents - and I'm still paying £700 a year. 'They told me it's because of the BD3 postcode. It should be around £300 or £400, but they said nothing counts for anything in BD3.' Mr Welikandu admitted he tells people he is from Pudsey, not Bradford. He added: 'If I say to my work colleagues, Bradford, they get the wrong idea - like it's dodgy. Pudsey is a bit more civilised.' The postcode lottery has also hit businesses landed with a BD3 postcode, despite administratively falling in Leeds. Mohammed Saqid, 20, who runs the Shandar takeawy on Gain Lane, said his business insurance premium had risen to £10,000. He said: 'If this was LS28 it would be £2,500. So having a Bradford postcode is four times more expensive for us. 'We pay our rates to Leeds council, we're right by the sign that says 'welcome to Pudsey'. It doesn't make any sense to us.' Conservative local councillors have backed the residents in their attempts to be reclassified by Royal Mail. Councillor Andrew Carter said: 'I am supporting local residents, and they are in contact with Royal Mail. Every possible obstacle has been put in the way of progress. Residents want to be in LS28 and they are right.' Cllr Craig Timmins said the postcode had also caused confusion for emergency services and council services. He added: 'These streets are an important part of our community and should be able to identify that way with their postcode, instead of constantly being frustrated by it.' Royal Mail said postcodes are designed to support deliveries, not to reflect geographies. A spokesperson said: 'Postcodes are designed to support the efficient sorting and delivery of mail, not to reflect geographic or administrative boundaries. Each one is based on the delivery route and the local delivery office, which means the postcode may not always match the actual geographic identity of the area. 'We have previously reviewed the arrangements and given the structure of the local network and the needs of the nearby delivery office, we do not believe a change is appropriate for our operations. 'It is important to note that postcodes typically cover groups of addresses delivered together.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Free tool reveals which mobile network is best for YOU based on where you live
A NEW free-to-use tool reveals which mobile network is best for you based on where you live. Ofcom has unveiled a new "Map Your Mobile" checker which tells you how good 4G and 5G coverage is in your local area. 2 You enter your postcode which draws up a map of which networks are available near you and which phone operator's network offers you the best performance. Mobile phone users can find the new tool via Ofcom said home movers can use the tool to suss out whether the coverage in an area they plan to move into is good enough. It also said commuters can use it to figure out what network best suits them on the way in and home from work. The checker features data based on previous customers' reviews on coverage in certain areas, combined with data from the major networks on how strong their signal is in selected zones. Ofcom said at a local level, data from the major networks can be unreliable due to factors like the weather, or whether you're in a certain type of building or area. Phone users will also be told how good coverage is down to a 50-square metre radius, equivalent to a postcode of up to 20 homes. Ofcom said the checker will be updated with fresh data after its launch to improve the service for users. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: "In the crowded market of UK mobile networks, consumers need access to accurate mobile coverage and performance information to choose a plan that meets their needs and represents good value for money. 'Ofcom's new tool will help consumers make informed decisions with crowd-sourced data and predictive data from mobile network operators, which should increase the reliability of coverage information available to consumers. 'It's important that the tool continues to incorporate user feedback to stay relevant, accurate, and responsive to the changing needs of consumers." Tom Luke, vice president at Opensignal, which helped make the tool with Ofcom, added: "Our partnership with Ofcom shifts the focus to real-world experience, using independent analysis of over 20million tests across the UK. "By putting this data directly into consumers' hands, we're helping them make smarter choices about which network truly delivers consistent quality where they live and work." There are other ways to check mobile phone internet coverage in your area, including for free via Which? also has a list of the major firms' mobile phone coverage checker tools available on its website. Best and worst broadband and mobile phone providers The launch of the new tool from Ofcom comes after the regulator last month unveiled the best and worst telecoms firms in 2024 based on customer satisfaction. In terms of mobile phone providers, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff came out on top with overall scores of 94%. Lebara came in third with a score of 91%, EE fourth with 90%, then Sky and Three in joint fifth with 87%. At the bottom of the pack was O2 with 85% then Vodafone with 84%. Tesco Mobile experienced the fewest complaints to Ofcom in 2024, with just four complaints per 100,000 customers. However, Ofcom said that the average number of complaints reduced in 2024 across all providers. Elsewhere, the average call waiting time for mobile customers decreased in 2024, from 2mins 24s in 2023 to 1min 52s in 2024. CUT YOUR TELECOM COSTS By James Flanders, Chief Consumer Reporter Switching contracts is one of the single best ways to save money on your mobile, broadband and TV bills. But if you can't switch mid-contract without facing a penalty, you'd be best to hold off until it's up for renewal. But don't just switch contracts because the price is cheaper than what you're currently paying. Take a look at your minutes and texts, as well as your data usage, to find out which deal is best for you. For example, if you're a heavy internet user, it's worth finding a deal that accommodates this so you don't have to spend extra on bundles or add-ons each month. In the weeks before your contract is up, use comparison sites to familiarise yourself with what deals are available. It's a known fact that new customers always get the best deals. Sites like MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, allowances and provider. This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider. However, if you don't want to switch and are happy with the service you're getting under your current provider - haggle for a better deal. You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you're given after your deal. If you need to speak to a company on the phone, be sure to catch them at the right time. Make some time to negotiate with your provider in the morning. This way, you have a better chance of being the first customer through on the phone, and the rep won't have worked tirelessly through previous calls which may have affected their stress levels. It pays to be polite when getting through to someone on the phone, as representatives are less inclined to help rude or aggressive customers. Knowing what other offers are on the market can help you to make a case for yourself to your provider. If your provider won't haggle, you can always threaten to leave. Companies don't want to lose customers and may come up with a last-minute offer to keep you. It's also worth investigating social tariffs. These deals have been created for people who are receiving certain benefits.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- BBC News
Find Out Where to Report a Noise Nuisance
To find who to report noise complaints to, you can click here, external, where you can enter your postcode and it will tell you who to contact.
