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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BBC local radio reprieve expected | BBC local radio reprieve expected |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten is expected to announce a reduction in the level of cuts faced by BBC local radio stations later. | BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten is expected to announce a reduction in the level of cuts faced by BBC local radio stations later. |
| Forty English radio stations are facing cuts of £15m and 280 jobs as part of plans to cut 20% from the BBC's budget over five years. | Forty English radio stations are facing cuts of £15m and 280 jobs as part of plans to cut 20% from the BBC's budget over five years. |
| Thousands of listeners, MPs and local authorities complained about the plans, saying the stations had a vital role. | Thousands of listeners, MPs and local authorities complained about the plans, saying the stations had a vital role. |
| It is understood Lord Patten has asked the BBC to look at the plans again. | It is understood Lord Patten has asked the BBC to look at the plans again. |
| The proposals were announced last October by director general Mark Thompson, following the licence fee settlement and the Delivering Quality First (DQF) initiative. | |
| Several stations faced losing between a quarter and a third of their staff, with neighbouring stations sharing programmes in the afternoon. | Several stations faced losing between a quarter and a third of their staff, with neighbouring stations sharing programmes in the afternoon. |
| Staff warned Mr Thompson at the Radio Festival in Salford last November that cuts would damage programme quality. | Staff warned Mr Thompson at the Radio Festival in Salford last November that cuts would damage programme quality. |
| Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips said the station would lose 15 of its 46 staff, meaning "we can't provide quality at all". | Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips said the station would lose 15 of its 46 staff, meaning "we can't provide quality at all". |
| A group of writers and cultural figures from Liverpool - including Willy Russell, Alan Bleasdale and Roger McGough - wrote an open letter to The Times complaining of the proposals, saying the station gave "voice to the beating heart" of the community. | A group of writers and cultural figures from Liverpool - including Willy Russell, Alan Bleasdale and Roger McGough - wrote an open letter to The Times complaining of the proposals, saying the station gave "voice to the beating heart" of the community. |
| Lord Patten is expected to acknowledge the strength of the opposition at the Oxford Media Convention later and say he has asked Thompson to reassess the cuts. | Lord Patten is expected to acknowledge the strength of the opposition at the Oxford Media Convention later and say he has asked Thompson to reassess the cuts. |
| However, with the BBC committed to making the cuts announced in October, any reduction in local radio's cuts would need to be made up elsewhere in the corporation. | However, with the BBC committed to making the cuts announced in October, any reduction in local radio's cuts would need to be made up elsewhere in the corporation. |