Decision details

To consider requesting that Royal Mail consult on adding Portchester as a new locality to the addresses in the Old Portchester Parish, following receipt of a petition.

On 15 December 2016, a petition was presented to a meeting of the Council, titled “Preserve the unique identity of Portchester”, stating that “We the undersigned petition the Council to preserve the unique identity of Portchester as a village and not simply a part of Fareham by lobbying Royal Mail to maintain the name of Portchester in postal addresses”.

The petition comprised over 1,500 signatures.  The Council agreed that it would write to Royal Mail to affirm the unique identity of Portchester and request that the name Portchester continues to be used in postal addresses.

In response to the petition received in 2016, it is proposed that Portchester would be added as an additional line to all properties within the area defined as the old Parish of Portchester. The change is proposed as part of the Corporate Objective for strong and inclusive communities, which recognises the distinct communities within the Borough.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves the proposal to request that Royal Mail consult on adding Portchester as a new locality to the addresses within the old Portchester Parish, subject to support being obtained from the MP for Fareham and Hampshire Chamber of Commerce by the Council.