Post codes are really useful, but the powers that be keep them closed unless you have loads of money to pay for them. Which makes it hard to build useful websites (and that makes Ernest sad). So we are setting them free and using them to run PlanningAlerts.com and Jobcentre Pro Plus. We're doing the same as everyone's being doing for years, but just being open about it. Hopefully the Government and Royal Mail will realise the value of this service and license us to offer it officially and for free. If not, and this website gets shut down, we'll close the websites we've made that make use of this site's lookup service. Permanently. - Mike Stenhouse