VISIT WELSHPOOL APP
Privacy Policy
1. About this privacy policy
This privacy policy explains how Welshpool Town Council collects, uses and protects information when you use the Visit Welshpool mobile application or Visit Welshpool website.
Welshpool Town Council is the data controller for personal information processed directly through Visit Welshpool.
Welshpool Town Council
Town Hall
High Street
Welshpool
Powys
SY21 7JQ
Email:
[email protected]
Telephone: 01938 553142
2. About Visit Welshpool
Visit Welshpool is an official Welshpool Town Council service designed to help residents and visitors discover and enjoy Welshpool.
The app and website provide information including local attractions, businesses, events, walking and cycling, public transport, parking and other visitor information.
The app also includes Pola Passport, an interactive feature which allows users to scan NFC tags at participating locations and businesses and collect discoveries towards entry into a monthly prize draw.
You do not need to create an account to use the main Visit Welshpool app.
3. Information we may process
The information processed depends upon which parts of Visit Welshpool you choose to use.
App and device information
The app may process technical information needed to operate its features, diagnose problems and communicate with Visit Welshpool's online services. This may include information such as a device or installation identifier, operating system, app version, requests made to our services and technical log information.
We use this information to provide the service, maintain its security, diagnose technical problems and understand how the service is being used.
Location
Some Visit Welshpool features may use your device's location to provide location-related services, such as showing your position in relation to places, attractions, transport or other points of interest.
Location access is subject to the permissions on your device. Where permission is required, you can choose whether to allow it and can change your choice through your device settings.
Visit Welshpool does not use your location for advertising.
NFC and Pola Passport
Pola Passport uses your device's Near Field Communication (NFC) capability to interact with Visit Welshpool NFC tags.
When you choose to scan a Pola tag, the app reads information stored on that tag. The tag contains a Visit Welshpool identifier which allows the app to identify the relevant Pola discovery.
The NFC scan is initiated by you. Visit Welshpool does not use NFC to read unrelated tags in the background.
We may record information necessary to operate Pola Passport, such as the discovery collected, the date or time it was collected and an app/device identifier used to maintain your Passport progress.
Prize draw entries
Collecting the required number of Pola discoveries may allow you to enter a monthly prize draw.
If you choose to enter a prize draw, we may ask you to provide personal information such as your name and contact details so that we can administer the draw and contact the winner.
Entering a prize draw is optional. Details provided for a prize draw will only be used for administering that draw unless we clearly tell you otherwise.
Transport information
Visit Welshpool provides transport information including bus, rail and other travel information.
When you request transport information, technical information relating to that request may be transmitted to our servers or the relevant information provider in order to return the requested information.
Information you provide to us
If you contact Welshpool Town Council through Visit Welshpool, its website, email or another contact facility, we will process the information you provide in order to respond to your enquiry.
This may include your name, email address, telephone number and the contents of your message.
4. Website information and cookies
When you visit the Visit Welshpool website, our web server may automatically record technical information such as your IP address, browser type, pages requested and the date and time of the request.
This information is used for security, administration, troubleshooting and maintaining the website.
The website may also use cookies or similar technologies where they are necessary for functionality or where you have consented to their use.
Where non-essential cookies are used, appropriate information and choices will be provided.
5. Why we use your information
Welshpool Town Council processes information only where there is an appropriate lawful basis under UK data protection law.
Depending on the feature concerned, this may include:
- Public task – where processing is necessary to provide and promote local tourism, community information and Council services in accordance with Section 144 of the Local Government Act 1972.
- Legitimate interests – where necessary for the effective, secure and reliable operation of Visit Welshpool, provided those interests do not override your rights.
- Consent – where we specifically ask for your permission, for example for certain device permissions or optional services.
- Contract or steps at your request – where this is relevant to a particular service or transaction.
We do not use personal information collected through Visit Welshpool for unrelated commercial advertising.
6. Sharing information
Welshpool Town Council does not sell personal information.
Information may be processed by organisations which provide technical services required to operate Visit Welshpool, such as website hosting, application infrastructure, mapping or transport information services.
Where an external organisation processes personal information on behalf of Welshpool Town Council, we take appropriate steps to ensure that the information is handled securely and in accordance with data protection law.
Some features may link to websites or services operated by other organisations. Those organisations are responsible for their own privacy practices when you choose to use their services.
We may also disclose information where required to do so by law.
7. International transfers
Some technology providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, Welshpool Town Council will ensure that appropriate safeguards required by UK data protection law are in place.
8. How long we keep information
We keep personal information only for as long as it is needed for the purpose for which it was collected, or for as long as we are required to retain it by law.
Technical and operational records are retained only for an appropriate period for security, maintenance and troubleshooting.
Pola Passport information is retained for as long as necessary to operate the Passport scheme and associated monthly activity.
Personal details supplied for a prize draw will be retained only for as long as necessary to administer the draw, deal with any queries and meet any applicable legal or audit requirements.
Information contained in correspondence with the Council will be retained in accordance with Welshpool Town Council's records retention arrangements.
9. Security
Welshpool Town Council takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or destruction.
Where information is transmitted between the app and our online services, we use appropriate security measures, including encrypted HTTPS connections where applicable.
No internet-based service can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect the information under our control.
10. App permissions
Visit Welshpool may request access to features of your device where they are required to provide a particular function.
For example, NFC is used when you deliberately choose to scan a Pola's Passport tag, and location may be used for location-related map and visitor features.
Device permissions can be managed through the settings on your phone or tablet.
Declining a permission may mean that the particular feature requiring it cannot operate, but other parts of Visit Welshpool may remain available.
11. Children
Visit Welshpool provides general tourism and community information which may be used by people of different ages.
We do not intentionally use the app to collect children's personal information for advertising or profiling.
Where a competition or other activity has additional eligibility requirements, these will be explained as part of that activity.
12. Your data protection rights
Depending upon the circumstances, UK data protection law gives you rights in relation to your personal information. These may include the right to:
- ask for a copy of personal information we hold about you;
- ask us to correct inaccurate information;
- ask us to erase information in certain circumstances;
- ask us to restrict how information is used;
- object to certain processing;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
- make a complaint about how your information has been handled.
To exercise your rights, contact Welshpool Town Council using the details at the beginning of this policy.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you are unhappy with the way your personal information has been handled.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy when Visit Welshpool changes, when new functionality is introduced or where legal or regulatory requirements change.
The latest version will be published on the Visit Welshpool website and the date at the top of this page will show when it was last updated.
14. Contact us
Questions about this privacy policy or the way Visit Welshpool handles personal information can be sent to:
Town Clerk
Welshpool Town Council
Town Hall
High Street
Welshpool
Powys
SY21 7JQ
Email:
[email protected]
Telephone: 01938 553142