An anonymous pressure group – Isle of Wight Postcode Campaign – has been set up on social media to campaign for our Island to have its own distinctive IW postcode.
The Isle of Wight Postcode Campaign wants an IW postcode to highlight the Isle of Wight’s unique identity. The group believe a new postcode would lead to enhanced media and marketing opportunities for the Island. The campaign also feels a unique postcode would lead to lower insurance premiums for residents.
However, the campaign has received predominantly negative feedback from Island residents, concerned a change in postcode may lead to increased delivery costs for parcels.
The Isle of Wight Postcode Campaign has said:
“We want an IW postcode because we believe it will improve the Island’s identity and feels practically, logically and logistically that an IW postcode is what residents and businesses on the Island deserve. We love Portsmouth and think they are great, but we are not Portsmouth or even a border town or in the same county.
“We are working with insurance companies following feedback from residents who are concerned that having a PO postcode negatively affects insurance premiums, and it looks like they have a valid case. We aim to share research as soon as possible but this is complex and takes time
“We are excited about the business and tourism opportunities Islanders have with regards to the media and marketing opportunities a new postcode will bring to the island and a whole host of promotional events and neighbourhood engagement events we have lined up to go with it.
In reply to concerns about increased delivery charges to the Island, the campaign says:
“We have had confirmation from Royal Mail that there will be no increases. We are currently contacting other regular couriers that we have had feedback to confirm they won’t increase their prices and – if they say yes – what the rationale is as that is unfair.”
When asked why the campaign chose to remain anonymous, the campaign responded:
We wish to remain anonymous at this stage so we can work in the background and have our talks and research without outside interference. We have yet to appoint a spokesman and also some of our members are business owners and have day jobs and wish to protect them.
The process to change a postcode is neither easy nor simple as all postal addresses within it need to be consulted together with the principal local authority, parish councils and MP.
What do Island Echo readers believe? Are you happy to remain under the PO (Portsmouth) postcode or would you prefer the Isle of Wight had its own distinct IW identity? Would the change from PO to IW lead to increased costs for residents and businesses? Or would this result in lower insurance premiums?
Please let us know your opinions in the comments.
PO30-PO41 are classed by many couriers as ‘non-mainland’ delivery areas, so new postcodes will make no difference to them and we will continue to be surcharged by many companies. Postcodes were typically allocated to postal districts, but with Portsmouth’s Slindon Street depot now gone, mail is I believe dealt with by Southampton. The only people who I believe would gain fom this would be printing companies and the change to the postal address finder (PAF) would be significant and for many months new addresses would be questioned by many companies as ‘not on the system’ as many would not have up to date PAF software.
To remain anonymous is strange and for that reason alone I say this is a bad idea and say no to IW1 – IW11.
Use the PO code but write Hampshire not IOW..got round it this way before when it says royal mail but not posting to the IOW.
Don’t change anything..works now and any alteration will lead to much higher prices, smells like ex londoner nonsense..elitism, all stirred up by a mystery bunch of twats.
Fantastic idea, let’s all get on board? IW is unique to us, PO is not.
Why not use DL (Dopey Local)
Or when driving… Don’t laugh.
Why not use dfl there’s enough of them now
Great idea being the majority of people on the Island
are persons from the Great City of London.
Interesting idea. As long as the delivery companies don’t add extra costs just because they think we would stupidly accept it, then I can’t see why not! Valid point about insurance aswell. Why not, let’s go for it.
How about a campaign to stop ebay sellers and others from refusing to send to the Island ‘because it costs more’ when very few if any couriers charge extra
What about the changes local island businesses, especially small businesses, would incur as a result of this having to change leaflets and other advertising both digital and printed media. With a lot of businesses already struggling this would be an added financial burden for them which would have little real benefit. Is this campaign going to fund the changes?
Woah, good on them for having a hobby I guess.
“Anonymous”, says it all. If you truly believe in something and can back it up in a logical reasoned view, why hide ? OK let’s have IW number plates not HW for example – I am joking before you take that idea forward. The logical, logistical and retrospective reasons why this IW Postcode cannot happen are obvious as is this “campaign” shows there is no realistic viewpoint. Also “social media” – let me guess – Facebook, the social media of choice by people who think think the world revolves around this sole platform, plus it’s associated groups.
Absolutely no need for it. It’s a ridiculous idea that, as you’ve said, has gained mostly negative comments from Islanders. Why carry on with the campaign? They did a poll on the community information FB page and got absolutely trashed.
Put it to bed now, no-one is interested. Far more important things to put time and energy into.
It was on Facebook? Must hold sway then!
A postcode of our own is just what we need. We need to educate people that our postal address is not Isle of Wight, Hampshire, and that we did not disappear when our health, education, social services et al were taken over by the mainland. We are still here living on an island that needs support from government and if we don’t make a stand like this we will disappear altogether.
There are various companies on the main land that will not deliver to the IOW under any circumstances due to costs bringing it over to the island. Having a unique post code would be going in the right direction. So bring it on as this has been on the side lines for far to long to happen.
If posted via Royal mail, and most shipping services , there are no additional costs.
What rubbish, having own postcode would potentially make it worse,as for Insurance that’s rubbish as well as not done on PO but numbers and letters after. This is a total waste of time and money, especially for companies at great expense. Sat nav and home deliveries would fail. Completely not needed. Focus on reducing ferry cost yes.
Stop people using IOW (mostly overners) too instead of the correct IW & it’s happy days!
There are already quite a few businesses which don’t deliver to the Isle of Wight. With our own Post Code we will be added to the list of “Non mainland UK’. We already pay a premium on some deliveries and, regardless of what courier companies say now, we most certainly will pay more for our ‘offshore’ or ‘Non mainland UK’ imports. I’m suspicious of anyone who wants to stay anonymous. Have the courage of your convictions and stick your head above the parapet, otherwise it looks as if you don’t want anyone to know it was you who muted the idea if it has an unfavourable result but if the campaign wins backing you’ll suddenly pop out from under cover to say ‘it was me, aren’t I clever’ and revel in all the glory.
What a gullible lot you are. This is clearly a wind-up.
Leave well alone,
Can you imagine all the chaos that this will cause with every household and person on the IOW, having to change your postal and registered address linked to things like The NHS, Driving Licences, Vehicle Log Books, All your various Insurance Policies, Passports, TV Licence, Banks and Building Societies, All the various Government Depts that you may deal with whether it be Pensions or child benefits, unemployment benifits etc and so the list goes on!
Or are these so called anonymous people volunteering to do all this and other changes for you?
Somebodies bright idea that would be best kept to themselves!
There’s some people who obviously have far too much time on their hands.
This just shows what boredom does to you here on the island!
Stupid idea if you ask me. When we moved to the island 9 years ago from Somerset, one of the first letters I got was from my insurance company with a refund of £80 on my contents insurance because the IOW was considered a low risk area.
Overners chirping!
What utter drivel. Try lying down until the thought passes
Another stupid idea cooked up by the “we love nostalgic ferries” people who then moan about the cost!!
The postcode, unlike the chain ferry is not currently broken, and don’t need fixing so leave it alone.
Far too much time on their hands, whatever nonsense will they dream up next.
If you advertise the fact its an island by changing the postcode you’ll be asking for trouble, we already have trouble with things like batteries from amazon, amongst other things, although individual sellers will send, what else will we be deprived of.