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Following a recent post which also discussed House Naming application : I thought it might be worth exploring the subject a little more. Of the various comments, the main objection about having to go through the Council to name your house, is the cost, which varies quite significantly from council to council. There was in addition some comments expressed about why an official should get to approve the name of your house. Previously if course, this was a no cost service so there was very little reason not to fill in the form. Many have said that you are still going to get your mail, and over time your new address will start appearing on various databases even if you don't go through the local council, so given some councils are charging up to £150, why bother? For me, there is one very good reason, it will get your house mapped on the GIS system used by the emergency services. Think about it, do you really want to be in a position where you urgently need an ambulance or there is a fire and the crews don't know where your house is and they cannot get directions from their mapping systems. I've been in the position of trying to respond to 999 calls and being unable to find an address and not been able to get directions...something to consider. For those that object to paying the fees being charged, perhaps the way forward not only for yourself but the benefit of others would be to challenge the fee, which should of course only be on a cost recovery basis. Even assuming an hour of admin officer time in total for each application, one would of thought total employment costs wouldn't exceed £35 per hour. Anybody up for the challenge?