PLANS to change the amount of local output on BBC Local Radio Stations have been met with unhappiness from North Cornwall's MP.

Scott Mann, the MP for North Cornwall said that he felt that the proposals, which would see departures of presenters and all shows after 2 pm on weekdays shared with Devon, would risk alienating large sections of the licence-paying audience. The vast majority of output at weekends would be shared on a regional basis.

The proposals, which the BBC says will enable it to invest more in digital content, such as podcasts, have led to outrage among staff and listeners.

BBC Radio Cornwall presenters including Jack Murley, Julie Skentlebery, Dan Pascoe, Ross Ellis, and James Dundon, as well as other colleagues, have been participating in a 48-hour national local radio and television strike as part of an ongoing action with the aim to force the BBC to stop the proposals.

Scott Mann has added his name to the calls to the BBC management to scrap the proposals and retain a full local service. He said: “I am unhappy about any changes to local content. Local radio is the BBC at its best, it’s what a lot of residents are content paying their licence fee for. The BBC bosses should prioritise what people want, and local radio and local programming is it. They are in danger of alienating large sections of their licence-paying audience and they should rethink this decision.

“BBC Radio Cornwall presenters, journalists, and staff have always provided very good, very balanced coverage in my opinion. I say this both as an MP and a local listener myself."