Privacy & data protection statement

Last updated 31 Oct 2026, 06:05

Thank you for using helpmap.uk. This statement explains, in plain terms, what information is involved when you use the site and how it is handled under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Who we are

helpmap.uk is run by Dean Goff, trading as Postcode Economics. Contact: [email protected].

What we collect

• No accounts and no cookies. You never need to sign up, and the site does not set cookies.
• Visitor statistics. We use Cloudflare Web Analytics, which gives us anonymous, aggregate figures (such as page views). It is cookie-free and is not used to identify you.
• Searches. The postcode or place name you type is sent to postcodes.io to find its location. The same postcodes.io lookup also tells us which council area you're in. We use that only to decide whether to show a rest centre alert for your area, and we don't store it. We do not store your searches. Your most recent search, the locations of up to 200 postcodes you've looked up (so repeat searches are faster), and display settings such as language, light mode, the place type you chose and your filters are saved only in your own browser so the map can show them next time; you can remove them by clearing this site's data in your browser.
• Your location. If you choose “Find nearest to me” (or the location pin next to the search box), your device works out where you are and the map uses it in your browser only. It is not sent to us.
• Reports and service updates. If you use the “Report a problem” or “Add or update your service” forms, the details you enter (including a name or email address, if you choose to give them) are sent to us by email through FormSubmit, so that we can check and correct the map.
• Emails. If you email [email protected], we use your message only to respond to you.

Lawful basis

We rely on our legitimate interests in running, securing and improving a free public information service. When you contact us, or send a report, we use your details in order to respond to you and act on your message.

Third parties

• Cloudflare: delivers and protects the website and provides the anonymous statistics.
• GitHub Pages: hosts the website.
• postcodes.io: looks up the location of postcodes and place names.
• Map tiles: the map images come from OpenStreetMap. OpenFreeMap (openfreemap.org) is used only as an automatic back-up if OpenStreetMap is unavailable. Like any website, these services receive your device's IP address when they send map images to your browser. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Backup map: OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles. © MapTiler.
• FormSubmit: forwards the report and service-update forms to us by email.

Each of these providers handles information under its own privacy policy.

How long we keep information

We keep emails and form messages only for as long as needed to respond and to keep the map accurate, and then delete them. Information saved in your browser stays there until you clear it.

If something goes wrong

If a personal data breach happened that was likely to put people's rights at risk, we would report it to the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of it and tell the people affected where required.

Your rights

You have the right to ask for access to, correction of, or erasure of information we hold about you, and to object to how we use it. To make a request, please email [email protected] and we will respond as soon as we can, and in any case within one month.

Making a complaint

If you are unhappy with how your information has been handled, we would appreciate the chance to put it right first. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

How our information is kept up to date · Terms of use · Accessibility