[Openstreetmap] Re: Fwd: PAF Consultation

[Andy Robinson]

I guess you forgot the postcode Mike ;)

Andy Robinson

-----Original Message-----
From: openstreetmap-bounces at vr.ucl.ac.uk
[mailto:openstreetmap-bounces at vr.ucl.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Mike Ryan
Sent: 14 October 2005 11:27
To: openstreetmap at vr.ucl.ac.uk
Subject: [Openstreetmap] Re: Fwd: PAF Consultation

Quality! Talk about Open Govt!

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Quoting Mike Ryan <mike.ryan at redmar.com>:

> Hi All,
>
> I found a consultation document on the www.postcomm.gov.uk website that
> discussed the Royal Mail management of the PAF database:
>
http://www.postcomm.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-a
ddress-file--management-of-information/RoyalMailsmanagementPAFJune1604CD.pdf
>
> Interestingly, they seem to take issue with the Royal Mail's many 
> updates to the
> PAF, which obviously allows them increased control of the database.
>
> Anyway, I've sent the following mail on to see whether concerns about 
> access to
> the data from the general public can be addressed. I'll obviously update
this
> if I hear anything back
>
> Best Regards
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Forwarded message from mike.ryan at redmar.com -----
>    Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:17:56 +0100
>    From: Mike Ryan <mike.ryan at redmar.com>
> Reply-To: Mike Ryan <mike.ryan at redmar.com>
> Subject: PAF Consultation
>      To: paf at psc.gov.uk
>
> Hi,
>
> I note from the postcomm.gov.uk website that there was a consultation 
> document
> issued with regard to the Royal Mail?s management of the PAF which was due
to
> be published by summer 2005. Has this now happened and are the results
> available?
>
> I don't know if you're aware, but Google have recently released a mapping
> feature that lets normal people develop maps online with points 
> overlayered on
> top. In the US this has resulted in a proliferation of websites from 
> all walks
> of society as people map out areas of interest to them and make their 
> findings
> of use to everyone over the Internet. In the UK, this hasn't happened to
the
> same extent, and a large part for this failure is the Royal Mail's tight
> control of the PAF database -  it is simply too expensive for a normal
person
> to map a postcode onto a map, as they need to be able to convert a
postcode
> into a Latitude/Longitude  pair to plot the relevant co-ordinates. This
has
> also resulted in the development of grass roots efforts such as
> www.openstreetmap.org and www.freethepostcode.org as people struggle 
> to develop
> their own solutions to this intractible problem.
>
> If there is anything I can do with regard to this situation via 
> yourselves then
> please let me know. Similarly, if the consultation process is still
underway,
> perhaps this could be added to the list of concerns to be discussed?
>
> Thanks and Regards
>
> Mike Ryan
>
>
>



Regards

Mike Ryan

Redmar Consulting Ltd
W +44 (0)20 7702 1671
M +44 (0)7958 750139
mailto:mike.ryan at redmar.com
http://www.redmar.com

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