Privacy & cookies
Last updated: 6 August 2026
The short version: ScottishLocal sets no cookies, runs no analytics and shows no adverts. We don't track you across the web and we have nothing to sell about you. The only personal data we ever receive is what you type into the contact form.
Who we are
ScottishLocal is an independent guide to local businesses in Scotland, operated from Scotland, United Kingdom. For the purposes of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, ScottishLocal is the data controller for any personal data described on this page.
If you want to reach us about anything here, use the contact form.
What we collect, and why
1. The contact form
When you send us a message we receive your name, email address, the business name you enter (if any), the reason you selected and your message.
- Why: to reply to you, and to set up or amend a listing if that's what you're asking for.
- Lawful basis: legitimate interests — responding to someone who has deliberately contacted us. Where the message is about listing a business, it is also necessary to take steps at your request prior to entering a contract.
- How long: we keep correspondence for up to 24 months, then delete it. Listing-related correspondence is kept for as long as the listing is live, plus 12 months.
We do not add you to a mailing list, and we do not send marketing email. If you ask us not to contact you again, we won't.
2. Business listing information
If you list a business with us, the details you supply — business name, description, town, photographs, opening hours, contact details and social links — are published on this site and are intended to be public. Please don't send us anything you don't want the world (and search engines) to see.
Lawful basis: performance of a contract, or legitimate interests where the listing is free. You can have a listing removed at any time by asking; we action removals within two working days.
3. Server logs
Our hosting provider records standard technical information when a page is requested — IP address, browser type, the page requested and the time. This is generated automatically by the web server, is used only for security and diagnosing faults, and is not used to build any profile of you.
Lawful basis: legitimate interests — keeping the site available and secure.
Cookies
This website sets no cookies. There is no analytics cookie, no advertising cookie and no consent banner, because there is nothing to consent to. The site does not use local storage or any similar tracking technology on public pages.
The private admin area used to manage listings sets a session cookie, but that area is not accessible to visitors and is excluded from search engines.
Third parties who may receive data
We have deliberately kept these to a minimum. There are three, and none of them are advertising or analytics companies.
| Who | What reaches them | When |
|---|---|---|
| Formspree Formspree Inc., USA |
Everything you type into the contact form, plus your IP address | Only when you press “Send message”. They pass it to our inbox and act as a processor on our behalf. Transfers to the USA rely on the provider's standard contractual clauses. |
| OpenStreetMap Foundation United Kingdom |
Your IP address and which map tiles you requested | Only on pages showing a map, and only once the map loads. No account or identifier is involved. |
| Our hosting provider | Standard server log data, as above | Every page request, as with any website. |
Fonts and all scripts are served from this site's own domain, so no font or CDN provider sees your visit. We do not use Google Analytics, Google Fonts, Meta Pixel, or any other tracker.
Photographs
Landmark and scenery photographs on this site are openly licensed images from Wikimedia Commons, credited in full on our photo credits page. If you believe a photograph has been used incorrectly, tell us and we will take it down while we check.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- ask what personal data we hold about you, and get a copy;
- have inaccurate data corrected;
- have your data deleted;
- object to, or ask us to restrict, our processing;
- ask for your data in a portable format;
- withdraw consent, where we relied on consent.
Ask via the contact form and we will respond within one month, free of charge.
If you think we've handled your data badly, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113. We'd appreciate the chance to put it right first.
Children
This site is aimed at adults and we do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal data, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to this policy
If we change how we handle data — for example by adding analytics — we will update this page and change the date at the top before the change takes effect.