Winchmore Hill vanishes from Google Maps in computer glitch (From Enfield Independent)
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Winchmore Hill vanishes from Google Maps in computer glitch
3:30pm Monday 6th August 2012 in News By Hermione Wright
Hampshire's Winchester Hill is listed in place of Winchmore Hill
Winchmore Hill has disappeared from Google Maps and been replaced with a mysterious counterpart.
People used to the area are concerned the computer glitch – which lists Winchmore Hill as Winchester Hill, may confuse people who are not familiar with Enfield.
Winchester Hill is in fact in Romsey in Hampshire, and travellers would have to make an 87-mile trip down the M3 to visit from Enfield.
Councillor Ertan Hurer, who represents Winchmore Hill, is keen to put Winchmore Hill back on the map and end the Google confusion.
He said: “No wonder people get lost coming here. Luckily, I know it like the back of my hand but what happens when people don’t? What is going to happen when people do look for us?”
The Conservative councillor added: “Winchmore Hill is very popular for its shops, restaurants and facilities but I can imagine people coming to find us are going to get lost.
“I will make sure when I put it into my sat nav, I put both in!”
Gary Nortman, sales manager at Auto Store Motor Factors in Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill, first spotted the error a month ago.
He reported the alien address to Google Maps, but has not received a response or an explanation about the listing.
He said: “It used to say Winchmore Hill so why it has been changed, I don’t know.
“When you search Winchmore Hill the area comes up. I am not sure it going to do much apart from we have a link to Google maps on our website so it could confuse people.”
Manager at Willow restaurant in Winchmore Hill Road, Giacono Carrottia, was concerned to hear about the disappearance of Winchmore Hill.
He said: “I didn’t know that it has been changed but I am sure people would get lost if it came up with Winchester Hill, I would be concerned.
"If I didn’t know Winchmore Hill, I know I would be confused.”
A statement from Google said: "We work hard to make Google Maps as accurate and helpful as possible for our users, but occasionally there may be small errors.
"We're constantly working to improve the quality and accuracy of the information available in Google Maps and encourage users to let us know about any updates that need to be made by using the Report A Problem tool on the corner of the map, where we review these requests."
