Village ditches 'where's that?' tag

David Schaffer
BBC News Online, in Ulnes Walton

It is difficult to even find road signs for the village

When Councillor Eileen Doran saw two men outside her house trying to drag a young girl in to a Land Rover she immediately dialled 999.

But when she told the operator the incident was taking place in the village of Ulnes Walton in Lancashire, she was met with a "where's that?" response.

"I really didn't know what was going on outside, it really did look like this girl was being abducted," said Mrs Doran, former chair of Ulnes Walton Parish Council.

"It was awful to see what was going on and I thought ringing 999 was the best thing to do. The operator didn't really say much apart from 'we'll sort it out' and rang off."

Fortunately police in Chorley contacted Mrs Doran a short time later saying no crime had been committed, the girl had escaped from a Cheshire children's home and had been legitimately pursued.

People have continually got confused because they couldn't find it on the map Councillor Dorothy Todd

But "Where's Ulnes Walton?" has been a common question for years because until a few months ago the village was nowhere to be seen on maps.

Despite it being known as a parish, the dispersed nature of the large community of more than 600 has had no focal point that could be used to mark the spot.

Other confusion has led to deliveries to a local company going as far as Cumbria because the driver thought he had to go to Ullswater, and countless visitors to nearby Wymott and Garth prisons regularly getting lost.

"People have continually got confused because they couldn't find it on the map," says Dorothy Todd, vice-chair of the council.

Being constantly associated with nearby Leyland and residents having a Preston telephone code has not helped matters.

'No interest'

Two years ago the council decided something had to be done.

Contacting Chorley council in the first instance they were met with what they feel was little interest in the bid for map status.

"Chorley council simply didn't want to get involved," says Mrs Doran.

Without the authority's endorsement, however, Ordnance Survey was not prepared to respond to the request.

Peter Royle is not quite sure what all the fuss is about

Until they enlisted the help of Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle and borough councillor Margaret Iddon, the prospect looked bleak.

"It still took months for the council to respond, but then suddenly last year they just said we could go on the map," says Mrs Todd.

Ordnance Survey immediately agreed and the name went on the most recent maps to be published.

And Chorley council refutes claims it was not interested in the push to get on the map.

A spokeswoman said: "Changing maps is not the responsibility of the council.

"But when members of the community approached us we offered help and advice and contacted Ordnance Survey and advised them that a request would be made on the matter."

The local officers know exactly where it is Inspector Janet Edmondson

Of course, the details of the process are now academic.

What is more important is the fact the placing on the map appears to be drawing people together.

Robert Ward, who runs Nook Farm in Halker Lane, says it will help the village move forward.

"Wherever you live you want it to have an identity, so getting on the map is good for that."

Other residents cannot see why there is such a fuss about the news, but even they do not describe themselves as dissenting voices.

Prison visitors have regularly got lost on the way to the jail

Woodturner Peter Royle, who has lived in the village for 26 years, said: "It is no bad thing for those pushing the village to get on the map and give it firm identification.

"But just doing that won't create the identity alone - we still don't have things like a village green, a pub, or a shop.

"But if this happening gets more people involved in the area, then I'm certainly not against it."

As for the police, they also reject claims they do not know where the village is.

Inspector Janet Edmondson, of Coppull police station, said: "The local officers know exactly where it is.

"If someone rings 999 the operator in the central command centre might not know where a location is, but there is a special database that if they enter an address will identify which local police station covers the area."