Together we can save BBC Radio Cumbria

South Lakes MP Tim Farron is calling on local residents to help join the campaign to save BBC Radio Cumbria.

The BBC has suggested in its 'Delivering Quality First' document that many local programmes could be replaced and only a skeleton local service be maintained. The BBC is already running pilot schemes for this kind of programme-sharing service in the south-east of England (for drive time on Radio Surrey, Radio Kent and Radio Sussex) and Yorkshire (for mid-afternoon on Radio Sheffield, Radio York and Radio Leeds).

BBC Radio Cumbria has a unique role in providing news and information county-wide and has been an extremely important source of information for Cumbrian's during times of crisis such as the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak, the 2007 Grayrigg tragedy and 2009 Cumbrian floods.

Tim recently wrote to the Chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, to express his concern about the proposals. According to research BBC Radio Cumbria is one of the most listened to regional broadcasters in the country. The average person listens to Radio Cumbria for around 10 hours a week.

Tim is now asking local residents to email the Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, to let him know their views about the plans to axe the much loved service. His email is: mark.thompson@bbc.co.uk

Tim said: "BBC Radio Cumbria 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 hope that local residents will join with me and help campaign to save BBC Radio Cumbria. We learnt that from the BBC 6Music campaign that BBC chiefs can be won over, so together let's make that happen!"