BBC CUTS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO PROGRAMMES

That this House notes and is concerned about the BBC's decision to axe popular community radio programmes in Manchester such as LGBT Citizen Manchester, Jewish Citizen Manchester and Irish Citizen Manchester which have been running for 21 years all of which have been staffed by volunteers and provide a much-heralded outlet for the local communities of Manchester and Greater Manchester; further notes that it is an important part of the Government's agenda to drive localism, which these BBC cuts undermine; recognises that removing local shows could potentially undermine the future of BBC local radio; and calls for the BBC to reconsider its decision and reinstate these key programmes due to the important outlet they provide to many Greater Manchester communities.