Poet Roger McGough and renowned dramatist Willy Russell, author of Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, are among a host of big name’s from Liverpool’s TV, radio, media and creative sectors to put their signatures to an open letter urging the BBC to rethink its controversial plans for local radio.
The letter, sent to The Times over the weekend, was also signed by key figures including former BBC Radio Merseyside manager Mich Ord, Radio Merseyside legend Roger Phillips, who spent 42 years as a presenter for the station, Cracker scribe Jimmy McGovern and author and barrister Zia Chaudhry.
The letter read in full:
“Sir,
your report on BBC plans to “de-localise” local radio makes depressing reading, given years of financial cuts of stations such as BBC Radio Merseyside.
Sharing programmes with other stations represents the death knell of localnesss. In an emergency, eg loss of the power supply, BBC local stations are where everyone tunes first. Truly local news is what only the BBC supplies, local commercial stations having given it up decades ago.
A major rethink is needed at the top otherwise licence-fee payers will feel double crossed: not just vulnerable people, who rely on local radio in times of crisis, but the communities is the BBC is here to serve as a friend who informs, educates and showcases entertainment about their local area. BBC bosses are out of touch with local radio listeners like us.”
The full list of signatories included Zia Chaudhry, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, John Gorman, Mike McCartney, Roger McGough, Jimmy McGovern, Malik al Nazir, Mick Ord, Roger Phillips, Julian Reynolds, Willy Russell, Tony Schumacher and Jeff Young.
