Well done to Sean McGinty.

Please also sign this petition.

To Chris Patten, Chair of The BBC Trust and Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC,

On Thursday 6 October 2011 Mark Thompson unveiled a number of proposals to cut spending at the corporation to respond to freezing of the licence fee.One of these proposals is to reduce programming on BBC Local radio to peak time broadcasts. During the afternoon the stations will amalgamate with other stations. Between 7pm and 10pm there will be national programming shared by every station.

This is devastating news for anyone who values their BBC Local radio station for what it is and what it should be.If these proposals are implemented BBC local radio will be damaged beyond repair and once diluted and destroyed it will be almost impossible to reclaim. BBC local radio has always been at the bottom of the foodchain and is almost underfunded.It does not deserve to become a victim of this attempt to economise.

BBC local radio must be shown respect by those who manage it, they are after all only temporary custodians of it. Their value is to react to the days news both national and local and provide the opportunity for listeners to have their say to local MPs and representatives of councils etc as they are put on air, BBC local radio is very interactive in its nature and many listeners rely upon it as a point of social contact. It is also an invaluable source of local information and news.It also acts as a parish notice board for communities and it gives considerable coverage to local charities and voluntary groups. BBC Introducing is at the heart of BBC local radio and gives a platform to local bands and musicians.

BBC local radio is part of our democracy at a grass roots level and to damage it will be to damage our democracy.

We the undersigned, value BBC Local Radio and hope that you continue to respect it and protect it as a valuable part of Our BBC. The role of the BBC at a local level is to provide a public service and if it is reduced to a limited service and networked it will be very damaging and will would more than likely spell the end of its life as a broadcasting medium. We come from across the country, including our capital, but are united in support of BBC local radio.

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/theindependentbbc

Luke… thanks for the comment… I am always trying to talk to one part of the council or the other. I recently called a senior counsellor after they asked for help running a service in the town. I didn’t even get a call back. I have offered to take over a building in town to use for SPACE but up to now I just get talk and inaction. I have spoken to everyone there now in person that could possibly help and the progress is painfully slow so I get on with SPACE and will start doing some proper journalism here and dig out some stats on what they do with the money they have for young people and the assets and buildings they waste. I have been watching them for 5 years now and I have many stories to tell.

Cheers! Sean

Let’s just hope the council f****** respond for once in their incompetent existence.

Great work you’re doing man.

I’m sick of the council extinguishing any kind of hope there is in the local music scene whenever it comes along due to not allowing gigs and generally being unsupportive, and its repeatedly happened for far too long, so good luck!

Space’s reputation precedes it. It will take a lot to repair the damage.