McInnes dismayed by radio jobs threat

4.03.00pm GMT Thu 11th Sep 2008

North East MSP Alison McInnes has contacted the owners of Radio Tay after plans emerged for standardising evening and overnight broadcasts across seven Scottish stations.

Bauer group anticipates redundancies or reduced hours as a result of the decision to centralise broadcasts between 7pm and 6am. As a result, listeners in Dundee will be listening to Clyde FM's Glasgow-based broadcast, rather than the local programmes currently aired by Tay FM.

Mrs McInnes has written to Bauer group urging them to rethink the proposals. She commented: "This decision seems short-sighted. My immediate concerns are for those staff who will be made redundant because of this decision if it is allowed to stand.

"I also wonder how the decision will play out in terms of Bauer's audiences. Evening and night-time shows have dedicated followers and in the era of online radio where so much choice is available, it seems strange to reduce the local distinctiveness of stations such as Tay FM."

Dundee West End Councillor Fraser Macpherson added: "Radio Tay provides an excellent local radio service for Tayside & North Fife and any drop in the amount of local output would be a regrettable step. I am hoping that Bauer, the station's owners, will reconsider this decision."