Cookie Policy

Cookie Policy for BedfordshireTimes.co.uk

Last Updated: 28th July 2024

This Cookie Policy explains how BedfordshireTimes.co.uk ("we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies on our website. We encourage you to read this policy carefully to understand our practices regarding cookies and your personal information.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to the owners of the site. Cookies can be "persistent" or "session" cookies.

How We Use Cookies

We use cookies for several purposes, including:

Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility.
Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow us to remember choices you make (such as your username, language, or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features.
Analytics Cookies: We use these to collect information about how visitors use our website, including the number of visitors, where they have come from, and the pages they visited. This helps us to improve our website.
Advertising Cookies: These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you and your interests. They also perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

Types of Cookies We Use

First-party Cookies: These are cookies that we set on your device directly.
Third-party Cookies: These are cookies set by our partners and service providers. For example, we use Google Analytics to help us understand how our website is being used.

Specific Cookies We Use

Tool	Purpose	Typical Duration of Data Retention
Google Analytics	- Track user behavior on website - Analyse traffic sources - Measure conversions and goals - Provide insights on audience demographics - Monitor site performance	- Default retention period: 26 months - Can be customised between 14 months and "Do not automatically expire" - User-level and event-level data associated with cookies, user-identifiers, or advertising identifiers
Google Search Console	- Monitor website's presence in Google search results - Identify and fix indexing issues - Analyse organic search traffic - Submit sitemaps - View backlinks - Receive alerts on spam or technical issues	- Keeps data for the last 16 months - Performance data (clicks, impressions, CTR, position) available for up to 16 months - Index coverage, sitemap, and rich result data typically available for the last 90 days

Your Choices Regarding Cookies

When you first visit our website, you will be presented with a cookie consent notification. You can choose to accept all cookies or manage your preferences. You can change your cookie settings at any time by clicking on the "Manage Consent" link at the bottom of our website.

You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.

Please note that if you choose to disable cookies, some parts of our website may not function properly.

Online Behavioural Advertising

We use cookies for online behavioural advertising. This means we collect information about your browsing habits on our website to provide you with more relevant content and advertisements. You can opt out of receiving this targeted advertising by visiting youronlinechoices.com and clicking on the AdChoices logo in the corner of advertisements that carry behavioural targeting cookies.