Labour narrow minded over radio plan

0

LABOUR councillors at Warrington have been accused of being “narrow minded” – because they failed to support proposals for a new BBC radio station serving Cheshire.
Cllr Ian Marks, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the borough council, says Labour are failing to see the bigger picture by rejecting the idea.
Labour councillors voted unanimously to reject a Liberal Democrat motion at the monthly meeting of the borough council calling for the establishment of a “Radio Cheshire” and a Cheshire section on the BBC website.
Cllr Marks (pictured) said: “Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria all have their own radio stations but not Cheshire. Similarly there is no Cheshire section on the BBC news web site. This isn’t right or fair because we pay our licence fee like everyone else and we are being discriminated against.
“Warrington, the two Cheshire authorities, and Halton, have a population of over a million which is a significant part of the North West’s seven million. We are a highly successful sub-region with a powerful economy. We deserve our own radio station and web site.”
Cllr Marks said the Labour leader – Cllr Terry O’Neill – had spoken about a newly formed Economic Prosperity Board to co-ordinate local authority activity in Cheshire and the importance of this relationship for the future of Warrington.
There was already successful sub-regional Local Enterprise Partnership.
Yet the Labour deputy leader – Cllr Mike Hannon – had accused the Liberal Democrats of insulting the people involved in setting up the AM station Radio Warrington.
“How inward looking when Warrington’s future prosperity depends on its regional role.
We are delighted about Radio Warrington and congratulate the people involved in setting it up, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be pushing for a complementary regional FM station as well.
“There is the bigger picture, which the deputy leader seems unable to see.
“He does the town a disservice. Sadly every Labour councillor voted down the proposal which shows the power of the party whip because I cannot believe they all agreed with him.”


0 Comments
Share.

About Author

Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

Leave A Comment