Press coverage of campaign

Flintshire Evening Leader 30/06/2006

Internet campaign calls for firms to use a Welsh address By Robin Henry

Flintshire businesses are changing their addresses following pressure from "Welsh pride" campaigners.

After pressure from campaigners, two companies have already agreed to change their advertised locations to Flintshire and there are suggestions others will follow suit.

There are already three different websites naming Flintshire firms who list their address as 'near Chester' or Cheshire.

Both Moneysupermarket.com and the Monsoon store on Broughton Retail Park have now changed their listed addresses to Flintshire.

Although presently confined to messageboards and forums, the man behind BalchderCymru - Adam Phillips, said "I'd like to thank those companies who are changing back to Flintshire. It could be seen as there is something wrong in saying they are from Flintshire. Theres a lot of people who feel very strongly about this and we are seriously considering staging protests outside the premises of these companies"

A spokesman for Moneysupermarket.com said "As of today we are changing our website to reflect that we are North Wales based and proud of it"

Monsoon customer service manager Charlotte Collyer said "In line with advice given, Broughton Park is listed as Chester. However after discussing further with our property team and the centre management, they have advised that that the Broughton park listing be changed to Flintshire. We thank Balchder Cymru for bringing this to our attention."

What do you think? Is it important that companies say exactly where they are situated or are we too sensitive in Wales?

Email editor@eveningleader.co.uk

Flintshire Evening Leader 18/07/2006

POSTCODE CAMPAIGN TAKES OFF ON WEBSITE

A web campaign calling for Flintshire to have its own identity is winning support from the internet community.

The Welsh pride website, NotCheshire.com has started an online petition and poll to urge the Welsh Assembly to give Flintshire an FL postcode.

Last month, a number of sites launched a "name and shame" campaign to expose Flintshire companies who advertise as being Cheshire-based.

The campaign has successfully convinced large local firms, including Ewloes Moneysupermarket.com and Broughtons Monsoon clothes store to start listing their Flintshire address.

Now the FL postcode campaign has really taken off. The site has so far had 800 hits and a straw poll shows 97 per cent support the proposal.

NotCheshire's operator, who wishes to remain anonymous, said "The reason for setting up NotCheshire.com was frustration at working at companies

within Flintshire who use a different address and the feeling Flintshire identity is being eroded."

"For me, its not really a Welsh-English argument. Its just frustrating that companies seem ashamed to be in Flintshire."

"On contacting companies it is clear from some replies that they do actually beleive they are in Cheshire and it takes some time to convince them of the truth"

"The postcode and phone code is the main cause of this as it is confusing for people from outside of the area and surely it would be a massive advantage for businesses in Flintshire to have our own postcode and phone code"

"It would be a superb oportunity to launch Flintshire into the business arena with its own unique identity."

NotCheshire.com has now approached Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami and AM Carl Sargeant for their support.

Mr Tami said "I think its important we save our identity"

"Its clear this is a cause of concern for many in the area who want to know why a company would prefer to use Chester on their address"

Contact: notcheshire@yahoo.co.uk