LOCAL PARLIAMENTARIANS’ ANGER AT PROPOSALS FOR BORDER TV (Jim Hume)

LOCAL PARLIAMENTARIANS’ ANGER AT PROPOSALS FOR BORDER TV

October 4, 2007 12:00 AM

Parliamentarians Jim Hume MSP, Jeremy Purvis MSP and Michael Moore MP have today spoken of their concern for the future of Border TV following a meeting with its Managing Director in Holyrood today.

Jim Hume said:-

"The proposal by ITV chief, Michael Grade, would see Border TV effectively merged with Tyne Tees in 2009.

"This is wholly unacceptable and we are concerned that it will lead to a decline in the quality of local coverage specific to the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

"The South of Scotland is the second largest ITV region in the whole of the UK - it's therefore already a huge area to cover and Border TV does an extremely good job. It would be impossible to expect either the national Scottish Television or a new station based in the Newcastle to match the current set up.

"The proposal is as yet not set in stone and the ITV chief is in discussion with Ofcom. As part of our joint campaign, Jeremy, Michael and I will take this opportunity to press the case for the retention of a separate Border TV service. I would ask the public to also write to Ofcom and ITV to express their concerns of losing this service"

Jeremy Purvis MSP (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) added:-

"The meeting was helpful and we were grateful for the Managing Director to discuss this with us but our long term concerns remain. Together with Michael Moore MP we are taking these concerns to Ofcom, the regulator and the body ultimately responsible for making the decision."