What are cookies and what are they used for?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your browser or the hard drive of your computer by websites that you visit. The vast majority of websites use cookies as they enable them to operate more effectively, in fact there are certain aspects of a website that cannot function at all without them, such as shopping baskets.
Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically however, you can accept, delete or disable cookies if you wish. The tools for doing so are usually contained in your internet browser’s “Help” menu. For information on how to control cookies visit: allaboutcookies.org.

Our use of cookies

We use cookies on our site. They are not used to gather any information that identifies you personally: either by a name, email or postal address. Cookies are used on our site so that information can be passed from page to page to enhance the user experience and also to collect website statistics. Any statistical data collected is aggregated and anonymous. It is used solely for the purpose of improving our site and the services that we offer and not to target you for the purposes of advertising or marketing either by us or third parties.
If you continue to use our site, you agree to our use of the following cookies:

1. Session cookies (PHPSESSID). This cookie is set upon arrival to our site and operates to enhance your experience for the duration of that visit. It keeps a record of any preferences that you have set during that visit. It also allows information entered into fields of online forms to be retained so that if you need to resubmit a form within the same browsing session you do not have to reenter all the information. Instead the previous attempt is saved and can be edited, saving you time. This cookie is anonymous for the duration of the session and is permanently deleted when you close your browser.
2. Google Maps (APISID, HSID, NID, PREF, SAPISID, SID, SSID). These cookies are used by Google to store user preferences and information when viewing pages with Google Maps on them.
3. Google Analytics. Cookies are used by Google Analytics to collect anonymous information about how visitors use our site, including the number of visitors, where they came from and the pages they visited. The cookies which Google Analytics uses on this site are:
   • Records the number of times a user has visited the site as well as the time of their first and last visit
   • Stores details of the moment when a user enters a site
   • Stores details of the moment when a user leaves a site
   • Records where the user came from including details of the search engine, keywords and links used

We use this information to compile reports and to help us improve our site. Information will not be used by us or by Google Analytics to identify or target you for the purposes of advertising or marketing. To learn more about how this information is used by Google Analytics visit: http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/policies/privacy/
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Access to information

The Act gives you the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the Act. Any access request may be subject to a fee of £10 to meet our costs in providing you with details of the information we hold about you.

Your rights

You have the right to ask us not to process your personal data for marketing purposes. We will usually inform you (before collecting your data) if we intend to use your data for such purposes or if we intend to disclose your information to any third party for such purposes. You can exercise your right to prevent such processing by checking certain boxes on the forms we use to collect your data. You can also exercise the right at any time by contacting us.

Links to other websites

Our website contains links to other websites. Our privacy policy only applies to our website so when you link to other websites you should read their own privacy policies.

Changes to our privacy policy

Any changes we may make to our privacy policy in the future will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, notified to you by e-mail.