I RECENTLY spoke live on BBC Radio Stoke to David Jennings the BBC Head in the West Midlands. I pressed a point I have been making for decades, that Cheshire should have its own BBC Radio Cheshire.
Counties that are much smaller than Cheshire, like Shropshire, Cumbria, Suffolk, Norfolk etc have had their own stations for many years and it is wrong Cheshire has missed out.
Currently BBC local radio coverage of Cheshire is split between a number of stations. South Cheshire is covered by BBC Radio Stoke and far too often our local news is treated as an after thought and priority is almost always given to Stoke on Trent news. It cannot and shouldn't be allowed to continue. Cheshire is a historic county with its own identity and a local radio station would greatly enhance the lives of the residents of Cheshire.
The BBC say they don't have the resources to introduce new local radio stations but they could find the money if they managed it properly. It was recently revealed less than half the £5 billion we give them annually through the licence fee, is actually spent on programme making. Also the salaries at the top are eye watering, (£450,000 pa for the director general).
I also raised the poor digital DAB coverage in the Crewe and Nantwich area and pointed out despite that, virtually all the Crewe Alex commentaries are on DAB.
The questions and answers can be heard on bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02swb5m after 95 minutes.
Cllr Brian Silvester Rope
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