A POLITICIAN with an OBE for his services to geography believes a minister's decision to make the National Address Register (NAR) 'open data' will 'encourage good governance and commerce'.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Bob Barr, who is an urban and social geographer, feels it is vital for addresses to be publicised and has campaigned on the issue for several years.

Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock confirmed the NAR will become open in a move which Cllr Barr (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall) feels has been long overdue.

He said: "I have a special interest in addresses because address data is vital not only for delivering letters but also for identifying locations where services are delivered or dispatching ambulances or fire engines.

"A wrong address can cause great inconvenience and at worst it can cost lives.

"A few years ago I led a team that showed that the population of Manchester was wrongly estimated in the census because of address errors.

"Putting that right got Manchester an extra £100 million in Government grants over a ten-year period.

"For the next census my team built the address register which was accurate and never challenged.

"Unfortunately, rather than maintaining the list of all addresses for everyone to use freely, Government sold the postal list along with Royal Mail and allows Ordnance Survey to sell another list.

"I have always felt this is wrong because those who don't pay can't easily get access to accurate addresses.

"I have campaigned for years that addresses should be 'open data' so I was very excited just before the election to hear Mr Hancock announce that the Government intends to make the NAR open data.

"I believe this will benefit citizens and encourage good governance and commerce.

"In addition to my council work I hope to be involved in this initiative if it goes ahead."

Warrington South MP David Mowat has praised his Conservative colleague Mr Hancock as the Government commits to being the 'most transparent' to date.

He said: "This Government has led the world when it comes to making data available to those who wish to make use of it.

"We've already published huge amounts of previously secret data on how the Government spends taxpayers' money now we are making the Postal Address File available for all those who wish to make use of it.

"Obviously publishing such a huge data file in a useable format will take time and there will be some privacy issues to be resolved but I'm hopeful that we can move forward swiftly on this."