Cookie Policy
Last Updated. July 14, 2026
Welcome to the Cookie Policy for Tamar Bridge News (accessible via [https://tamarbridge.org.uk](https://tamarbridge.org.uk)). To ensure transparency, protect your data rights, and remain fully compliant with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), this document explains how, when, and why we use cookies and other tracking technologies on our platform.
By interacting with our platform, you acknowledge that we store and access essential data structures on your device. All non-essential processing activities require your active, opt-in consent before executing.
—
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are minute text fragments or files downloaded directly to your host device (such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet architecture) whenever you interact with our web assets. They serve as local storage mechanisms, enabling our servers to remember operational states, user parameters, interface configurations, and aggregate telemetry profiles across discrete browsing sessions.
Beyond traditional HTTP cookies, our platform may leverage equivalent client-side storage technologies, including localized web storage variables (HTML5 localstorage and sessionStore strings), tracking pixels, and script-based web beacons.
—
Comprehensive Classification of Cookies Used
We classify our tracking elements across four strict functional categories. This structure ensures clarity regarding which trackers are required for system uptime versus those utilized for analytical tracking or personalized promotional serving.
1. Strictly Necessary Cookies
These scripts are mandatory for fundamental site operations, secure socket layer terminations, user session persistence, and firewalls. In accordance with the UK statutory exceptions, these do not require prior consent and cannot be individually disabled within our local Consent Management Platform (CMP) banner.
| Cookie Identifier | Source / Owner | Purpose | Lifecycle Duration |
| `tamar_session_id` | First-Party | Preserves active user session state across page requests. | Session |
| `sec_fw_token` | First-Party | Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection and security filtering. | Session |
| `cookie_consent_status` | First-Party | Stores your chosen consent choices from our cookie banner. | 365 Days |
2. Analytical & Statistical Cookies
These trackers assist us in assessing user interactions, measuring traffic distribution channels, and observing layout performance. Under the 2026 UK Data Use and Access Act (DUAA) exemptions, purely first-party statistical analytics tracking that is strictly ring-fenced to our own domains can operate with simplified transparency parameters, provided data is not passed to external ad platforms.
| Cookie Identifier | Source / Owner | Purpose | Lifecycle Duration |
| `_ga` | Google Analytics | Evaluates aggregate user volume patterns and path conversions. | 2 Years |
| `_gid` | Google Analytics | Groups session data arrays to compile localized traffic heatmaps. | 24 Hours |
3. Functional & Personalization Cookies
These files allow our system parameters to remember your personalized selections, such as accessibility choices, custom font sizing, or localized layout profiles.
| Cookie Identifier | Source / Owner | Purpose | Lifecycle Duration |
| `ui_theme_mode` | First-Party | Remembers user selection for light or dark mode styling profiles. | 180 Days |
4. Marketing & Targeted Advertising Cookies
These tracking pixels monitor external user actions across multiple websites. They build individual profile blocks to deliver targeted programmatic advertisements that match your distinct reading habits.
| Cookie Identifier | Source / Owner | Purpose | Lifecycle Duration |
| `_fbp` | Meta Platforms | Measures ad performance and optimizes targeting arrays across social networks. | 90 Days |
If you require deep clarification on how we handle tracking files, wish to submit a data subject access request (DSAR), or want to file a formal data handling complaint under our statutory June 2026 complaints workflow, connect with our team directly:
Data Protection Desk: contact@tamarbridge.org.uk
We strive to evaluate all structural privacy complaints and resolve technical queries within 30 working days of receipt.