YFA: News BBC local radio axes Henry Ayrton

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		BBC local radio axes Henry Ayrton
		Without notice or consultation, Henry Ayrton's Folk and Roots programme, broadcast on Yorkshire and Humberside radio stations, has been cancelled as of Thursday 27th March. It is replaced by a regional "talent" show which was previously broadcast on Wednesdays; that slot will now be occupied by additional sports coverage. This further marginalisation by local broadcast media of folk and traditional music comes at a time when the BBC at national level has been showing signs of treating it with a degree of respect not accorded for a long while, and has to be seen as retrogressive. Yorkshire Folk Arts will be working with other organisations and individuals in an effort to bring home to regional station chiefs the fact that they have a duty to all their constituents which is not served by short-sighted, unilateral actions of this kind. It is important that we all register our protests, and keep up the pressure; but equally important that we do not do this in a confrontational manner. Registering your protest Online petition   Via email   Via post YFA has taken up the case to reinstate folk coverage on BBC local radio stations in the Yorkshire and Humber area, by writing to the heads of all four local stations, the head of the Yorkshire cluster and the head of local radio in the UK. We have asked for a meeting to discuss folk radio programming and to find a way for us to move forward together. The online petition We have also begun an online petition to the BBC to ask for a reinstatement of folk coverage. This is situated at the petitiononline website. Please go to: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/flkradio/petition.html and sign it. A practical word about petitions. Petitions by email usually end up as so much spam - but this site specialises in hosting petitions, such as the highly successful petition about the new Licensing "reform" bill. Have no fear, your email address will be kept private. Below is the text of the petition: "We believe that BBC local radio has a duty of care towards all its listeners and that by axing Henry Ayrton's Real Music Show and thereby removing all folk programming from the four BBC Yorkshire and Humber stations, the BBC is neglecting the interests of a large body of people who wish to listen to folk music on the radio. We urge the BBC to reconsider and either reinstate Henry's show, as it was, or replace it with at least the same length (one hour per week) of folk programming with a local accent; either one show broadcast regionally on all Yorkshire stations, or separate folk shows on the four separate stations, Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull. Local folk radio programming connects folk clubs, festivals, dancers, and performers throughout the region, giving essential diary dates and playing music by local people and by performers passing through. It is vital to the health and well-being of the growing Yorkshire and Humber folk community." Email addresses Local stations can be contacted via their websites, or directly by email. In the first instance, you will receive only a standard reply; your message will not at this stage be recorded as a protest. BBC local radio stations have in the past been obliged by letter-writing campaigns to back down on decisions they have made, and it is understandable that they would wish to avoid this where possible. Subsequent letters or emails should get more personal attention, and will be logged. Radio Humberside radio.humberside@bbc.co.uk   Radio Leeds radio.leeds@bbc.co.uk   Radio Sheffield radio.sheffield@bbc.co.uk   Radio York northyorkshire.radio@bbc.co.uk   Postal addresses Managers of the four individual stations are: Matt Youdale Managing Editor, BBC Radio York 20 Bootham Row, York YO3 7BR Richard Whitaker Managing Editor, BBC Radio Leeds Broadcasting House, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9PN Gary Keown Managing Editor, BBC Radio Sheffield 54 Shoreham Street, Sheffield S1 4RS Helen Thomas Managing Editor, BBC Radio Humberside 9 Chapel Street, Hull HU1 3NU In charge of the whole Yorkshire area and the immediate boss of all the station managers is: Colin Philpot Head of Local and Regional Programmes, North BBC Radio Leeds Broadcasting House, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9PN In addition, the Chairs of the Local Advisory Councils for each area can be contacted via the relevant radio station: Michael Ross Chair, Radio York Local Advisory Council Nick Agarwal Chair, Radio Leeds Local Advisory Council Richard Nayar Chair, Radio Sheffield Local Advisory Council Patrick Spicer Chair, Radio Humberside Local Advisory Council
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