Removing old URLs from Google

[Switch_Digital]

We rebuilt a site about a year ago on a new platform however Google is still indexing URL's from the old site that  we have no control over. We had hoped that time would have 'cleaned' these out but they are still being flagged in HTML improvements in GWT. Is there anything we can do to effect these 'external' dropping out of the indexing given that they are still being picked up after a year.

[BenjaminMorel]

Are you able to access and edit your .HTACCESS file? It should be in the root directory of your domain. If so you should be able to create 301 redirects pointing one URL permanently to another. If not things may be more difficult.

P.S. Are you guys really based in Jersey? It's rather rare to meet a fellow Channel Islander here!

[Travis_Bailey]

Do you mean that it's the same domain and the old URLs are still floating around? If so, you can try removing them via GWT. Just be very careful which URLs you list for removal. Make a list and check it three times.

If these are 404s pointing to your site from external domains, the best you can do is contact the administrator at the site and request they point to a relevant page with a 200 response code.

[Switch_Digital]

Thanks for the helpful responses and yes Ben we are based in old Jersey...

[Travis_Bailey]

I had kind of a 'derp moment'. If you control the same domain, take a look at your historic traffic (if possible) and definitely do a link audit on the error pages. You can 301 the old pages to their newer, relevant, counterparts.

I would take that tact before removal.