Cookies
This page explains how Fossoway and District Community Council uses cookies on this web site, and how you can control them.
Last updated: 3 November 2026
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that a web site stores in your browser on your computer, phone or tablet. They can remember preferences or help measure how a web site is used. Similar technologies, such as local storage, can also save information in your browser.
Not all cookies are essential. Analytics cookies help measure web site use, but are not needed to read our news, view meetings or browse the calendar.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), a service provided by Google, to understand how visitors use this web site and help us improve its content and navigation. It can collect information about pages visited, interactions with the site, how visitors arrive here and the browser or device they use.
Analytics information is sent to Google for processing. Cookie identifiers can distinguish browsers and visits; this information should not be regarded as completely anonymous. See how Google uses information from web sites that use its services and Google's Privacy Policy.
Google Analytics cookies
GA4 uses first-party cookies, stored for this web site. Google's standard cookies are listed below. The expiry periods are Google's defaults, not a guarantee of how long a cookie will remain on your device: Analytics settings and your browser can change or shorten them.
| Cookie | Purpose | Default expiry |
|---|---|---|
_ga |
Helps distinguish one browser from another when measuring visits. | 2 years |
_ga_<identifier> |
Maintains information about a visit (session) for the Analytics property. | 2 years |
Read Google's explanation of GA4 cookies for further details. Cookie expiry is separate from the retention of information already sent to Google.
How you can control cookies and Analytics
- Browser settings: you can inspect, delete or block cookies and other saved site data through your browser's privacy settings. Blocking all cookies or clearing site data may reset preferences or affect some web site features.
- Google Analytics opt-out: Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on for supported browsers. It must be installed and enabled in each browser where you want it to work.
Blocking third-party cookies alone may not block GA4's first-party cookies. Deleting cookies does not prevent them being set again on a later visit or delete information already collected. Private browsing does not, by itself, stop Analytics data being sent to Google.
Further information and questions
For more about your privacy, read our privacy statement. You can also visit the Information Commissioner's Office guidance on cookies.
If you have questions about cookies or Google Analytics on this web site, please contact us.