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Residents on a road where one side is in Bradford and the other side is in Leeds are campaigning to change a ‘dangerous’ postcode situation that has existed for decades.
People who live on one side of Gain Lane, in Thornbury, pay their council tax to Leeds and those on the opposite side are in Bradford Council’s district – but everyone on Gain Lane has a Bradford (BD) postcode.
Residents on the Leeds side say they have been begging Royal Mail to change their postcode to a Leeds (LS) one for over 40 years.
Among the reasons given for wanting the change is the confusion it causes for emergency services, who do not know whether to send resources from Leeds or Bradford.
Leeds councillor for the Calverley and Farsley ward, Andrew Carter, has been leading the campaign for “well over 20 years.”
He explained: “It’s not just highly inconvenient but highly dangerous too, because emergency services are constantly getting confused.
“They go to the wrong place sometimes or are unable to find it. There is confusion about whether to send Leeds or Bradford.”
Russell Robinson, who lives on the Leeds side of Gain Lane said his father Frank Robinson fought to change the postcode when he was Lord Mayor of Leeds and estimated the campaign has been ongoing for more than 40 years.
“The Royal Mail just say the postcodes are for their postmen,” said the Bradford Council worker. “It’s not their fault insurance companies use them.
“That’s the main concern for most people, insurance. But it’s also a problem for police. They don’t know whether to send Bradford police or Leeds police. You’re saying hey up my house is being robbed!
“Ambulances too: there used to be a thing a while back where you could get a medical procedure done if you lived on one side of the street but not on the other. It’s crazy.”
Russell’s neighbour on the Leeds side of the road, Balbinder Sandhu, said: “I usually say I’m from Pudsey. We pay tax rates to Leeds City Council but everything else is Bradford like insurance, post…
“We moved here around a year ago to get our daughter into a Pudsey school. Now we wouldn’t have to, they accept anybody.”
Clr Carter added: “At the end of the day the Royal mail seem to have the power to decide.
“It really is essential that they take the situation seriously and listen to residents. They all want it changed.
“I will continue fighting for this and supporting our residents.”
Royal Mail have been approached for comment.
