'BBC Essex is the county's radio station'

Maldon MP and former Culture Secretary John Whittingdale tells BBC Essex that proposed changes to BBC local radio are “a mistake” and he is “very concerned” by them.

Under new proposals to produce more digital content, BBC Essex's schedule would look like this:

Mon-Fri:
6am-6pm - local Essex output (many other BBC LR stations becoming regional after 2pm)
6-10pm - regional show (local sport shows remain)
10pm-6am - national shows
Local news bulletins remain from 6am-6pm.

Saturday:
Regional shows across the whole day, apart from local BBC Essex sport

Sunday:
6-2pm - regional show
2pm onwards - national shows

The BBC says these changes would result in the closure of around 48 posts nationally.
It add that the proposals “aim to maintain the distinctiveness of our local services while allowing the BBC to adapt with our audiences and ensure we remain relevant. Taken together they will ensure our network of local services – across tv, radio, online and Sounds – offer more value for all audiences. We’ve had to make these difficult choices to enable us to reach out to many people who increasingly rely on their mobiles for local content.”

The BBC is also creating 11 investigative reporting teams across the country, focusing on key local issues across TV, radio and online. It also said it would deliver "a wider range of local audio programming through BBC Sounds".