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(para 57 is the one you want)

"We propose that the towns of
Melksham and Bradford-on-Avon, which
are currently located in the Chippenham
constituency, are included in our proposed
Trowbridge constituency with the town of
Trowbridge. There are strong geographic and
communication links between the three towns."

Presumably the authors' idea of "strong communication links" didn't extend to trialling these links by attempting to travelling by bus to Bradford on Avon or train lose to Trowbridge, but never mind.

This also presumably means we'll no longer have the option of voting for Duncan Hames as our MP, which leaving aside any political leanings strikes me as a shame, as he's the most pro-active MP we've had in living memory.

What I am interested in though is the potential for changing Melksham's post code. It's long struck me as an anomaly that we should have a Swindon post-code but a Bath telephone dialling code, whereas Trowbridge has both a Bath post code and dialling code. I'd like to propose a campaign to have Melksham's post code changed to a BA code in line with the boundary changes. Anyone care to join me?

By Phil_McMullen at 15:34 on 12/09/11

Re-post

Just out of interest, what advantage or benefit would that have except peoples desire to be under Baths cover presumably as it has more class about it, most people in Melksham would say 'I live near Bath' when talking to someone not local.

Disadvantage wise surely the fact that a postcode total change renders sat navs useless for that area ( granted some can be updated by download, but 90% of Car installed units cannot without expensive disk replacement)

Cost to businesses to re-print paperwork, leaflets, flyers, signage, and livery that includes the address?

I assume it would take years to get rid of all old address references and therefore post would be addressed to SN anyway inlots of cases ( databases etc)

Has it happened elsewhere in the country?

By Paulweymouth at 09:46 on 13/09/11
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The only advantage really was like I said, simply that the SN code is a bit of an anomaly and always has been. Melksham has close ties with Bath but virtually none with Swindon.

I do take your point and realistically I know it's unlikely to ever happen, for all the good reasons you give above. Phone numbers have changed several times since I've lived here though (I'm old enough to remember having a 4 figure phone number! Then the 70- got added, then the dialling code changed to 0225, then it became 01225) and yet somehow eventually all the signage and van sides get corrected without black holes forming and entire galaxies imploding.

Also, I'm not too sure the argument about stocks of printed stationery holds water these days, either. Again, this is one which caused angry headlines in the papers when dialling codes were changed several years ago. Nowadays though, how many companies really keep large stocks of stationery? Most offices have a laser printer now. I have two jobs, one for one of the largest IT projects in Europe and the second part-time for a small independent local company. Neither retain any large holdings of stationery supplies on site that I'm aware of - they just print to order. Furthermore, most flyers and brochures that are produced are out of date within six months or so in any case.

So, it's unlikely to ever happen, I realise that, but that's not to say the idea isn't at least worthy of consideration and friendly debate. Hence my raising it.

By philmcm at 17:20 on 13/09/11
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I think you are right Phil that it would be a shame to lose Duncan Hames as MP; he's always around and very responsive i the way that some MPs are just not accessible.

By sashahes at 11:59 on 14/09/11
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