diff --git a/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Alert.pm b/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Alert.pm
index 0e1b205a128..d7db6e40330 100644
--- a/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Alert.pm
+++ b/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Alert.pm
@@ -88,9 +88,8 @@ sub rss : Private {
     }
 
     my $url;
-    if ( $feed =~ /^area:(?:\d+:)+(.*)$/ ) {
-        ( my $id = $1 ) =~ tr{:_}{/+};
-        $url = $c->cobrand->base_url() . '/rss/area/' . $id;
+    if ( $feed =~ /^area:(\d+)/ ) {
+        $url = $c->cobrand->base_url() . '/rss/area/' . $1;
         $c->res->redirect($url);
     }
     elsif ( $feed =~ /^(?:council|ward):(?:\d+:)+(.*)$/ ) {
@@ -246,7 +245,7 @@ sub set_local_alert_options : Private {
     my $feed = $c->get_param('feed');
 
     my ( $type, @params, $alert );
-    if ( $feed =~ /^area:(?:\d+:)?(\d+)/ ) {
+    if ( $feed =~ /^area:(\d+)/ ) {
         $type = 'area_problems';
         push @params, $1;
     }
diff --git a/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Reports.pm b/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Reports.pm
index 4bc103fb8a3..c4ed5316f4e 100644
--- a/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Reports.pm
+++ b/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Reports.pm
@@ -254,11 +254,21 @@ sub rss_area_ward : Path('/rss/area') : Args(2) {
 
     $c->stash->{rss} = 1;
 
-    # area_check
-
     $area =~ s/\+/ /g;
     $area =~ s/\.html//;
 
+    if ($area =~ /^[0-9]+$/) {
+        my $area = FixMyStreet::MapIt::call( 'area', $area );
+        $c->detach( 'redirect_index' ) unless $area;
+
+        $c->stash->{qs} = "";
+        $c->stash->{type} = 'area_problems';
+        $c->stash->{title_params} = { NAME => $area->{name} };
+        $c->stash->{db_params} = [ $area->{id} ];
+
+        $c->detach( '/rss/output' );
+    }
+
     # XXX Currently body/area overlaps here are a bit muddy.
     # We're checking an area here, but this function is currently doing that.
     return if $c->cobrand->reports_body_check( $c, $area );
diff --git a/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Rss.pm b/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Rss.pm
index 2eb95d63801..0b10aa68a07 100755
--- a/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Rss.pm
+++ b/perllib/FixMyStreet/App/Controller/Rss.pm
@@ -50,29 +50,6 @@ sub new_problems : Path('problems') : Args(0) {
     $c->forward('output');
 }
 
-# FIXME I don't think this is used - check
-#sub reports_to_council : Private {
-#    my ( $self, $c ) = @_;
-#
-#    my $id                 = $c->stash->{id};
-#    $c->stash->{type}      = 'council_problems';
-#    $c->stash->{qs}        = '/' . $id;
-#    $c->stash->{db_params} = [ $id ];
-#    $c->forward('output');
-#}
-
-sub reports_in_area : LocalRegex('^area/(\d+)$') {
-    my ( $self, $c ) = @_;
-
-    my $id                    = $c->req->captures->[0];
-    my $area                  = FixMyStreet::MapIt::call('area', $id);
-    $c->stash->{type}         = 'area_problems';
-    $c->stash->{qs}           = '/' . $id;
-    $c->stash->{db_params}    = [ $id ];
-    $c->stash->{title_params} = { NAME => $area->{name} };
-    $c->forward('output');
-}
-
 sub all_problems : Private {
     my ( $self, $c ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/Default.pm b/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/Default.pm
index d2ca6508b4c..7503f108a93 100644
--- a/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/Default.pm
+++ b/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/Default.pm
@@ -945,14 +945,12 @@ sub council_rss_alert_options {
 
     my ( @options, @reported_to_options );
     foreach (values %$all_areas) {
-        $_->{short_name} = $self->short_name( $_ );
-        ( $_->{id_name} = $_->{short_name} ) =~ tr/+/_/;
         push @options, {
             type      => 'council',
-            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s', $_->{id}, $_->{id_name} ),
+            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s', $_->{id} ),
             text      => sprintf( _('Problems within %s'), $_->{name}),
             rss_text  => sprintf( _('RSS feed of problems within %s'), $_->{name}),
-            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $_->{short_name} ),
+            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $_->{id} ),
         };
     }
 
diff --git a/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/FiksGataMi.pm b/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/FiksGataMi.pm
index 73e98ffdb3a..3b658261128 100644
--- a/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/FiksGataMi.pm
+++ b/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/FiksGataMi.pm
@@ -152,19 +152,19 @@ sub council_rss_alert_options {
         push @options,
           {
             type => 'area',
-            id   => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s', $kommune->{id}, $id_kommune_name ),
+            id   => sprintf( 'area:%s', $kommune->{id} ),
             rss_text =>
               sprintf( _('RSS feed of %s'), $kommune->{name} ),
             text => $kommune->{name},
-            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area', $short_kommune_name ),
+            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area', $kommune->{id} ),
           },
           {
             type => 'area',
-            id   => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s', $fylke->{id}, $id_fylke_name ),
+            id   => sprintf( 'area:%s', $fylke->{id} ),
             rss_text =>
               sprintf( _('RSS feed of %s'), $fylke->{name} ),
             text => $fylke->{name},
-            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area', $short_fylke_name ),
+            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area', $fylke->{id} ),
           };
 
         push @reported_to_options,
diff --git a/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/UK.pm b/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/UK.pm
index f8b304cce0e..1f7ddc00331 100644
--- a/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/UK.pm
+++ b/perllib/FixMyStreet/Cobrand/UK.pm
@@ -262,17 +262,17 @@ sub council_rss_alert_options {
 
         push @options, {
             type      => 'area',
-            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s', $council->{id}, $council->{id_name} ),
+            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s', $council->{id} ),
             text      => $council_text,
             rss_text  => sprintf( _('RSS feed of problems within %s'), $council->{name}),
-            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $council->{short_name} ),
+            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $council->{id} ),
         };
         push @options, {
             type     => 'area',
-            id       => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s:%s:%s', $council->{id}, $ward->{id}, $council->{id_name}, $ward->{id_name} ),
+            id       => sprintf( 'area:%s', $ward->{id} ),
             rss_text => sprintf( _('RSS feed of problems within %s ward'), $ward->{name}),
             text     => sprintf( _('All reports within %s ward'), $ward->{name}),
-            uri      => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $council->{short_name} . '/' . $ward->{short_name} ),
+            uri      => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $ward->{id} ),
         } if $ward;
 
     } elsif ( $num_councils == 4 ) {
@@ -300,31 +300,31 @@ sub council_rss_alert_options {
         push @options, {
             title => $district_name,
             type  => 'area',
-            id    => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s', $district->{id}, $district->{id_name} ),
+            id    => sprintf( 'area:%s', $district->{id} ),
             text  => sprintf( _('All reports within %s'), $district_name ),
             rss_text => sprintf( _('RSS feed for %s'), $district_name ),
-            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $district->{short_name}  )
+            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $district->{id}  )
         }, {
             title => "$d_ward_name, $district_name",
             type      => 'area',
-            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s:%s:%s', $district->{id}, $d_ward->{id}, $district->{id_name}, $d_ward->{id_name} ),
+            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s', $d_ward->{id} ),
             text      => sprintf( _('All reports within %s ward, %s'), $d_ward_name, $district_name ),
             rss_text  => sprintf( _('RSS feed for %s ward, %s'), $d_ward_name, $district_name ),
-            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $district->{short_name} . '/' . $d_ward->{short_name} )
+            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $d_ward->{id} )
         }, {
             title => $county_name,
             type  => 'area',
-            id    => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s', $county->{id}, $county->{id_name} ),
+            id    => sprintf( 'area:%s', $county->{id} ),
             text  => sprintf( _('All reports within %s'), $county_name ),
             rss_text => sprintf( _('RSS feed for %s'), $county_name ),
-            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $county->{short_name}  )
+            uri => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $county->{id}  )
         }, {
             title => "$c_ward_name, $county_name",
             type      => 'area',
-            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s:%s:%s:%s', $county->{id}, $c_ward->{id}, $county->{id_name}, $c_ward->{id_name} ),
+            id        => sprintf( 'area:%s', $c_ward->{id} ),
             text      => sprintf( _('All reports within %s ward, %s'), $c_ward_name, $county_name ),
             rss_text  => sprintf( _('RSS feed for %s ward, %s'), $c_ward_name, $county_name ),
-            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $county->{short_name} . '/' . $c_ward->{short_name} )
+            uri       => $c->uri_for( '/rss/area/' . $c_ward->{id} )
         };
 
         push @reported_to_options, {
diff --git a/t/app/controller/alert.t b/t/app/controller/alert.t
index 0f13dfe7e09..700725147ed 100644
--- a/t/app/controller/alert.t
+++ b/t/app/controller/alert.t
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ FixMyStreet::override_config {
     $mech->content_contains('rss/pc/EH11BB');
     $mech->content_contains('All reports within Edinburgh City');
     $mech->content_contains('All reports within City Centre ward');
-    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/Edinburgh');
-    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/Edinburgh/City+Centre');
-    $mech->content_contains('area:2651:Edinburgh', 'Council feed contains Edinburgh id and details');
-    $mech->content_contains('area:2651:20728:Edinburgh:City_Centre', 'Ward feed contains Edinburgh id and details');
+    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/2651');
+    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/20728');
+    $mech->content_contains('area:2651', 'Council feed contains Edinburgh id and details');
+    $mech->content_contains('area:20728', 'Ward feed contains Edinburgh id and details');
 
     subtest "Test Nominatim lookup" => sub {
         $mech->get_ok('/alert/list?pc=High Street');
@@ -58,11 +58,11 @@ FixMyStreet::override_config {
     $mech->get_ok('/alert/subscribe?rss=1&feed=invalid:1000:A_Locationtype=local&pc=EH1+1BB&rss=Give+me+an+RSS+feed&rznvy=');
     $mech->content_contains('Illegal feed selection');
 
-    $mech->get_ok('/alert/subscribe?rss=1&feed=area:1000:Birmingham');
-    is $mech->uri->path, '/rss/reports/Birmingham';
+    $mech->get_ok('/alert/subscribe?rss=1&feed=area:1000');
+    is $mech->uri->path, '/rss/area/1000';
 
-    $mech->get_ok('/alert/subscribe?rss=1&feed=area:1000:1001:Cheltenham:Lansdown');
-    is $mech->uri->path, '/rss/area/Cheltenham/Lansdown';
+    $mech->get_ok('/alert/subscribe?rss=1&feed=area:1001');
+    is $mech->uri->path, '/rss/area/1001';
 
     $mech->get_ok('/alert/subscribe?rss=1&feed=council:1000:Gloucestershire');
     is $mech->uri->path, '/rss/reports/Gloucestershire';
diff --git a/t/app/controller/alert_new.t b/t/app/controller/alert_new.t
index 6f19a13ef5a..031a0e2131f 100644
--- a/t/app/controller/alert_new.t
+++ b/t/app/controller/alert_new.t
@@ -383,12 +383,10 @@ subtest "Test two-tier council alerts" => sub {
     for my $alert (
         { feed => "local:51.896269:-2.093063",          result => '/rss/l/51.896269,-2.093063' },
         { feed => "local:51.896269:-2.093063", result => '/rss/l/51.896269,-2.093063/4.5', distance => 4.5 },
-        { feed => "area:2326:Cheltenham",               result => '/rss/area/Cheltenham' },
-        { feed => "area:2326:4544:Cheltenham:Lansdown", result => '/rss/area/Cheltenham/Lansdown'  },
-        { feed => "area:2226:Gloucestershire",          result => '/rss/area/Gloucestershire' },
-        { feed => "area:2226:14949:Gloucestershire:Lansdown_and_Park",
-          result => '/rss/area/Gloucestershire/Lansdown+and+Park'
-        },
+        { feed => "area:2326", result => '/rss/area/2326' },
+        { feed => "area:4544", result => '/rss/area/4544'  },
+        { feed => "area:2226", result => '/rss/area/2226' },
+        { feed => "area:14949", result => '/rss/area/14949' },
         { feed => "council:2326:Cheltenham",            result => '/rss/reports/Cheltenham' },
         { feed => "ward:2326:4544:Cheltenham:Lansdown", result => '/rss/reports/Cheltenham/Lansdown' },
         { feed => "council:2226:Gloucestershire",       result => '/rss/reports/Gloucestershire' },
diff --git a/t/cobrand/fiksgatami.t b/t/cobrand/fiksgatami.t
index 7c006636bc4..1f0efc36b1f 100644
--- a/t/cobrand/fiksgatami.t
+++ b/t/cobrand/fiksgatami.t
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ FixMyStreet::override_config {
 
     $mech->get_ok('/alert/list?pc=3290');
     $mech->content_contains('rss/l/59,10');
-    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/Larvik');
-    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/Vestfold');
+    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/709"');
+    $mech->content_contains('/rss/area/7"');
     $mech->content_contains('/rss/reports/Larvik');
     $mech->content_contains('/rss/reports/Vestfold');
-    $mech->content_contains('area:7:Vestfold');
-    $mech->content_contains('area:709:Larvik');
+    $mech->content_contains('area:7"');
+    $mech->content_contains('area:709"');
     $mech->content_contains('council:' . $vestfold->id . ':Vestfold');
     $mech->content_contains('council:' . $larvik->id . ':Larvik');
 };