A precision location mapping application that had to withdraw from the Channel Islands earlier this year could be available to islanders again “before Christmas”.

PostTag founder Keith Lewin provided an update to Express after previously citing a “licensing issue” with the government that “doesn’t look like it would be easily resolved”. 

The application, which cross-references multiple data bases to provide accurate latitude and longitude information, had to withdraw from the Channel Islands earlier this year.

At the time, the Infrastructure Department said that PostTag had been “allowing commercial access free of charge to the Government of Jersey’s address data via the UK Ordnance Survey outside the terms of their license agreement” and had “agreed to cease these unauthorised activities”.

We aim to get PostTag back into everyone’s hands before Christmas

PostTag founder Keith Lewin

Mr Lewin said that a database had now been built from open street maps and teams of people scouting the islands, including what he referred to as “GoPro PostTaggers”.

“We have been overwhelmed with the public support and protest,” he added.

“We aim to get PostTag back into everyone’s hands before Christmas.”

Mr Lewin acknowledged that this was an “adventurous” timeframe, but revealed that “a lot of people on the islands” were helping to verify the database and enable the application’s return.

“By Monday, hopefully, we’re going to equip them with everything they need to be able to complete our crowdsourcing needs,” he explained.

“Essentially, they look up their address on a map and, if the pin is accurate, they just press yes. If it’s not, they move the pin to where their house is or where the entrance is.

“And they can do that for themselves, they can do it for friends, they can do it for family, they can do it for neighbours, and that’s all they need to do.

“We call that location verification.”

Mr Lewin said the PostTag team was “thrilled” that there were islanders willing to help and described the current situation as “a genuine case of the public getting together to help us provide something that will benefit them all”.