Family fear they can't be found due to postcode change

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A FAMILY fear they might not be found in an emergency after paramedics struggled to reach them following a postcode change they did not want.

Andrew and Linda Biffin from Buckley had their address changed by Flintshire Council and say they have had nothing but trouble since.

But frustration at failed postal deliveries and hikes in insurance quotes paled into insignificance on Monday night when an ambulance called to assist their granddaughter, who was in great pain, failed to find them.

Mrs Biffin, 64, said: “It’s a very big worry for us because we have no confidence in getting a response in an emergency.

“It’s been a nightmare. Our insurance quotes have doubled as companies have no record of us.

“Our house has been here for 200 years but now I have real fears we won’t be found when it really matters.

“But our qualm is that Flintshire Council has failed to instill in the authorities that the postcode has changed.”

Mrs Biffin claims the address and postcode change was initiated by Flintshire Council's street name and numbering department in 2013 when a large housing development was built on land at Alltami Heath, near Farm Field Lane, which leads to the couple’s home and two other properties.

Their section of the lane was changed to become Old Farm Field Lane after an access road to the new development cut across it – but their postcode was also changed against their wishes.

Mr Biffin said: “We tried to fight it and eventually compromised on the address – but the postcode change has caused us so much trouble.”

The couple realised the extent of their problem when their 11-year-old granddaughter, who lives with their daughter next door, was taken ill, writhing on the floor in agony with suspected appendicitis.

“We called the out-of-hours doctor who said they send an ambulance. That was at about 9.20pm.

“After nearly half-an-hour, we got a call from the paramedics who said they couldn’t find where we were.

“They were practically at the other end of Buckley so my daughter’s partner had to drive to meet them and lead them to where we live. That took about another 10 minutes – but in a real emergency doing that wouldn’t be good enough.

“The paramedics were amazing but my issue is with Flintshire Council.

“Their building control officer said this had all been sorted.”

Buckley and Flintshire councillor Carol Ellis, who represents Mrs Biffin's ward, said: “I raised the potential for these issues with Flintshire Council at the time they changed things.

“They said the change would mean those issues wouldn’t arise – but obviously that hasn’t been the case.

“In an emergency situation, this could all prove very costly. It needs to be sorted so the people affected can live with peace of mind.”

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said yesterday: “We’re in regular conversation with our partner agencies to ensure our databases are kept accurate and up-to-date. We will be looking into this to establish what happened.”

Andrew Farrow, Flintshire Council’s chief officer, planning and environment, said: “The postcode was changed by Royal Mail because of a change in the road layout and road name due to a housing development in the area.

“In such circumstances all statutory bodies, including the Welsh Ambulance Service, were informed of the change by Flintshire Council at the time it was made.”

Royal Mail spokesman Val Bodden said: “We would only change a postcode for operational reasons.”

[Lounge Lizard]

“In such circumstances all statutory bodies, including the Welsh Ambulance Service, were informed of the change by Flintshire Council at the time it was made.”
So if the local authority did that the delay was caused by the Ambulance Service not acting on the information.

[arnold cheshire]

i can not find postcode of new houses near me they have been living there 3 months with no street sign whats the street called ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Thats nowt, I have a street that's been there for 50 years at least, none of the houses have numbers, there is no street sign, and its not even on ANY maps or Sat Navs.