Border TV

City Council Executive oppose plans to cut local news coverage

Controversial plans to cut spending on independent regional TV news that threatens the survival of ITV Border has been opposed by Carlisle City Council's Executive today (Monday, 24 September).

At a meeting held this afternoon, Members of the Executive spoke against the plans, after an emergency item was placed on their committee meeting agenda.

Deputy Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Ray Bloxham said:

Border TV is an established part of the region and provides an excellent coverage of issues which have a direct impact on the lives of local people. Any plans to cut down on their reporting would have an adverse effect on how news in Carlisle, the rest of Cumbria and South West Scotland is reported. We would be left with a lesser and diminished service.

Strong media coverage ensures that local organisations are accountable for their decisions and puts across the information which is needed the most by local residents. This was illustrated by their coverage of the Carlisle Floods in 2005 and the Foot & Mouth outbreak in 2001, which proved that Border has a close affinity with its viewers.

The future of locally produced documentaries and factual programming was also raised as an issue within the meeting. Executive Members commented on Border TV's high quality productions and raised concern that this too could be lost if broadcasting was moved away from Cumbria.

The Executive committee requested that the Leader of the City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson wrote to Ofcom raising their objections.