A CONTROVERSIAL postcode change could leave hundreds of residents out of pocket when renewing their home insurance, campaigners have claimed.
It comes as residents living on the Five Links estate, in Laindon, adjust to the streets and numbers being reconfigured by Basildon Council this week
Homes have now been given floral-themed names, along with new postcodes as the authority claims the previous system was too difficult for the emergency services to navigate.
Alan Walker, of Camellia Place, formerly Mellow Purgess, informed his insurers of his postcode change, only to be told it would result in his premium’s new being “significantly increased.”
Mr Walker’s new postcode, SS15 5NL, was terminated by Royal Mail in October 2003 and has been warned by his insurers that homes in the area are “at risk of flooding and subsidence.”
The 66-year-old says in the 36 years he has lived in his home, it has not once been affected by flooding and subsidence.
He said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous, and it has all comes from this ridiculous renaming and numbering.
“I will end up having to pay for something that could easily be avoided and I don’t think is needed.
“I already pay about £240-a-year and I don’t particularly want to be shopping around for better insurance premiums as a result of problems that don’t exist. I have been here for 40 years, and have never had any flooding and subsidence.
“If this is what everybody will have to go through, it’s going to cause real problems, and I don’t think the council has thought this through.”
Dave Penn, a neighbour of Mr Walker, says he refuses to bear his home’s new number as a result of the changes and will continue to fight the changes.
Frank Ferguson, Ukip councillor for Lee Chapel North, has helped residents to fight the changes and believes the issue could end up once again in the courts.
He said: “This is typical of the problems residents will have to face.
“I have received a lot of calls since the changes have come in. One lady called me as Royal Mail had been looking to find her home under the new postcode.
“Her son, who has recently been let go from his work, had t o go to Chelmsford to collect the parcel and spend money on a bus fare that he really should not have needed to.
“It’s typical of the administration at the council to force through something they want, and not think of the residents living at Five Links.
“There’s going to be a lot of these extra expenses they will have to incur, and in a lot of cases, it’s money they are not able to afford.
“I have said all along, that all the estate needs is better signing, not new names, numbers and postcodes.”
Basildon Council was unavailable for comment.
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Two-year legal battle
CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to continue fighting against the controversial renaming of road names which came into force on Monday.
Streets on the Five Links estate, in Laindon, have been given floral-themed names, with a new numbering system also being introduced.
It came after a two year legal wrangle which went through the courts.
More than 400 residents successfully challenged Basildon Council over the plans at a magistrates’ court hearing last April, but their victory was short-lived.
The authority won an appeal at the High Court earlier this year, which has left campaigners with a £24,000 bill.
Basildon Council believes re-numbering and renaming streets will help emergency services find their way around the estate, previously nicknamed Alcatraz for its fortress-like appearance.
A fundraising campaign was launched to help John James, 78, chairman of the Five Links Residents Association, who led the campaign before being hospitalised by a stroke, pay off the £24,000 debt.
His wife, Joan, believes the stress of the debt was responsible for Mr James being hospitalised.
The JustGiving page, set up by Basildon resident David Keeble last month, has raised £1,600 so far.
Ukip councillor Frank Ferguson says he is continuing to pursue a legal loophole, which he admits is his final hope.
He claims wording in the most relevant pieces of legislation, which date back to 1847 and 1925, makes it unclear if the council can legally carry out the changes.
For more information on the campaign for John James, or to donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/John-James-24000-demand.