Farron continues fight for BBC Radio Cumbria!

Cumbrian MP, Tim Farron, has taken the fight against BBC Radio Cumbria funding cuts to the new Chairman of the BBC Trust.

The BBC has planned significant funding reductions for the radio station, which could reduce the service to breakfast and drive-time shows with national radio broadcast at other times. Tim has written a letter to Lord Patten, new Chairman of the BBC Trust, in which he asked him to "save the services that so many Cumbrians and visitors rely on".

BBC Radio Cumbria has a unique role in providing news and information county-wide and has been an extremely important source of information for Cumbrians during times of crisis such as the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak, the 2007 Grayrigg tragedy and 2009 Cumbrian floods. If these plans were to be forced through news services would be greatly reduced as would the ability to hold local decision makers to account.

Commenting today Tim said: "I will continue to fight for BBC Radio Cumbria. It is an absolute pillar of everyday life in Cumbria. We rely on it for news, comment, entertainment and up to date information about weather, events and travel in Cumbria.

"I have written to Lord Patten to ask him to reconsider the damaging reductions in funding that are planned. I hope he will realise how important this issue is and take action to halt the cuts".