An article in the Liverpool Echo (dated 5th May 2020) reports that the BBC, citing the tough Economic climate, plans to mothball two of its bases in Lancashire from where reporters and editors edit news- items to report on the north of the BBC North West Region. This article can be found here: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/bbc-close-offices-north-west-18202450.
The BBC, of course, deny that this will mean redundancies and even worse coverage for the north of the BBC North West Region. However, it is inevitable that through moving resources out of the northern two-thirds of the North West (by closing offices in Lancaster and Blackpool) that this is exactly what should happen. Television license payers in the North West pay £157.50 per annum and (arguably) the BBC is getting more money than they did over thirty years ago when BBC North West not only covered all of Cumbria (and had a base in Carlisle), but also provided opt-out news coverage for Cumbria in lunchtime North West regional bulletins.
The BBC’s priorities are wrong, not its money. They should NOT be cutting Regional Television resources for the North West, but INCREASING these resources because Lancashire and South Cumbria are given scant regard as it is. The move to mothball offices in Lancashire will make for even worse news- coverage!
