Privacy and Cookies

Who is responsible for this site

Richard Summerfield operates Services Ahead and is responsible for the personal information we handle. For privacy questions, requests or corrections, email info@servicesahead.co.uk.

Search, location and feedback

The finder matches the road, junction, postcode or name you enter against the directory in your browser. If you select Use my location and allow access, your browser supplies your position so the finder can calculate distances on your device. The finder keeps that position in memory until you clear it or leave the page. Services Ahead does not send your search terms or precise position to Google Analytics.

Your browser can remember your language and analytics choices. If you save a feedback draft, it stays in that browser. The draft is not sent to Services Ahead. To remove a saved language preference or draft, clear this site’s stored data in your browser.

Maps, directions and photos

The finder’s overview map is drawn in your browser. An interactive map on a service page connects to OpenStreetMap only when you choose to load it or show the entrance. OpenStreetMap receives your IP address, basic browser information and the map area you request. Its own privacy policy covers that information and any storage it uses. OpenStreetMap Foundation privacy policy.

Get directions opens Google Maps with the service entrance as the destination. Google handles any location you share with it to start directions. Some service photos are delivered by Wikimedia or Geograph. Your browser connects to the photo host when it loads an image, which shares connection information such as your IP address. Google privacy policy, Wikimedia privacy policy and Geograph privacy information.

Cookies and browser storage

• Site preferences and drafts. Your browser stores your analytics choice so we can respect it, your selected language so we can remember it, and any draft you choose to save. These stay on your device until replaced or cleared, subject to your browser’s storage settings.
• Optional Google Analytics. If you choose Allow analytics, we use Google Analytics to understand how people use the directory. It receives information such as the page viewed, device and browser details, and an analytics identifier. The _ga and _ga_2EE1KJS49K cookies distinguish browsers and maintain session state. Google’s default expiry for these cookies is two years, subject to browser limits. How Google uses this information.

Analytics is based on your consent. Select Analytics settings in the footer at any time to decline or change your choice. Declining stops further Analytics collection from that browser and clears the Analytics cookies we set. The directory and directions work with Analytics declined.

Our Google Analytics property is configured to keep event-level data for two months and user-level data for 14 months, with the user-level period restarting on new activity. These settings do not govern aggregated reports. Google Analytics data retention.

Hosting, enquiries and data sharing

Unlimited Web Hosting UK hosts the site and its mailbox. The web server can log information such as IP addresses, page requests and timestamps to operate and protect the site and diagnose problems. The hosting panel is set to process access logs daily and remove the previous month’s archived logs at the end of each month. If you email us, we use your address and what you send to handle the enquiry. We keep correspondence for as long as needed to resolve the matter, maintain a record of the response or meet a legal obligation.

Our legitimate interests include operating and securing the directory, responding to messages and correcting listings. When you allow Analytics, Google processes Analytics data on our behalf. Google and third-party map and photo providers may process information outside the UK. Google’s processing terms describe the safeguards it uses for restricted international transfers, including standard contractual clauses where applicable. Contact us for details about transfers. Google’s data processing terms.

Your privacy rights

You may have the right to access, correct or erase personal data, restrict or object to processing, receive a portable copy, and withdraw consent. Email info@servicesahead.co.uk to exercise your rights. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.