Dunne welcomes BBC Trust chairman's support for local radio

Philip Dunne MP today welcomed comments from Lord Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust, encouraging the BBC to look again at its proposed cuts to local radio, including BBC Radio Shropshire.

The BBC announced proposals last October to save money to meet its licence fee settlement between now and 2017. The proposed changes to local radio in England caused a strong reaction, and the Trust determined they are disproportionate to the value of these services to their audience.

Lord Patten said: “We have asked the management to look again at the planned cuts to local radio to see if they can find more money to protect the local identity of services.”

Mr Dunne commented: “I have taken an active interest in seeking to preserve local content on BBC Radio Shropshire, as have local listeners and Shropshire Council. I am pleased that views of licence fee payers in the county who value our local radio services are being taken into account.”

The Trust has asked the BBC Executive to find ways to scale back the proposed changes to BBC local radio, which in the case of BBC Radio Shropshire amounted to 20% of the station’s budget.

The Trust has specifically asked for the following to be considered:
1. The proposals for regionalised sharing on weekday afternoons (BBC Radio Shropshire is due to enter a daytime share with BBC WM, BBC Stoke, BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire);
2. The reduction in newsgathering; and
3. The impact on off-peak specialised programming (including sport and specialist music).
The BBC’s management will now reconsider their proposals in these areas, with a final decision expected in April.