A new online mapping service launched by Apple for millions of iPhone customers has left users in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge scratching their heads due to dozens of errors.
Apple’s new maps service, which has been unveiled in an attempt to compete against Google Maps, is strewn with gremlins.
In addition to listing many businesses that have long closed down, it relocates others that are still running – and even claims Highbridge has two railway stations.
Among Burnham High Street shops it shows as still being open are Keith Cox Electricals, which closed four years ago. French’s Cafe is also shown on the map of College Street – even though it closed its doors in December 2008.
Other former businesses still displayed are Premier Fish Bar in Abingdon Street (which is shown in Marine Drive), JPS Footwear in the High Street, J&C Sports in the High Street, Jon Paul clothing in the High Street, and the aptly-named Forgotten Years in Cross Street.
Several thriving businesses are also shown in the wrong location. Magnolia House guesthouse is shown as being located in the middle of the Esso roundabout in Oxford Street.
And the Bay View Cafe is displayed as being on the North Esplanade near Vicarage Street instead of the South Esplanade.
One local user, Michael Hunt, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The maps are laughable – they don’t name the town of Highbridge at all, nor local villages like East Huntspill, Brean or Brent Knoll.”
“And Highbridge has two railway stations within a few hundred metres of each other if the maps are to be believed!”
The firm has come in for plenty of criticism from users across the world in recent days and has promised that its Apple Maps application will improve as it receives reports of errors and iPhone owners add their own data, although it concedes this may take some time.
Does Highbridge really have two railway stations?
