[Talk-GB] Private and restricted access post boxes

[Dan Glover]

So it's March, the sun is shining here and it's time to go back out in
pursuit of post boxes and other OSM things.

 

While working through the CT postal area three things have come up which
maybe need further thought:

 

-          Some boxes are located within MOD or other restricted access
sites.  To those inside the fence they are normal facilities but perhaps
they're not an "amenity" in the sense of being available to the general
public.  This also tends to inhibit surveying.

 

-          Royal Mail data from 2013 in some cases includes "private boxes",
one local example is in the reception area of an hotel.  There is a mail
collection from the building but there's a conventional pillar box within
200 m.  These probably aren't an "amenity" in general terms.  The RM data
treats them inconsistently, they're not all listed.

 

-          There are boxes inside some supermarkets. They are also on
private property however the public is encouraged to visit the premises.
Those in Tesco and Asda, maybe others, tend to be tall GRP boxes of this
style (a variation with clear back is used at airports and other places
where security might be a concern)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Post_box_at_ASDA,_Smithdown_Road.jpg
.  These are owned and operated by RM in the normal fashion.  In the past
Sainsbury's had boxes carrying advertising and often labelled MIDI POST or
similar, in this style
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Post_box_CH49_15_in_Sainsbury,_Upton
.jpg  I understand these were "private" in RM terms and the third party
which managed them went into administration, following which most were
removed.  However due to RM's inconsistent data some appear in the 2013 FOI
release.

 

Is there an appropriate way to handle the first two cases?  Should they be
in OSM at all, or shown with a tag to indicate restricted access?

 

As for the Sainsbury's boxes it may be the best thing is to treat all of
them as requiring a check to confirm whether the facility still exists.

 

 

Dan

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk-gb/attachments/20200301/9004806f/attachment.htm>