Welcome to the Shrimpers Trust own TLG news section as the BBC Radio Essex saga continues

A copy of the e-mail Paul sent to the BBC earlier today;

Dear Sir

I have received a number of complaints from Southend United supporters regarding your decision to cease live coverage of Southend United away games - I understand that this decision has been taken by the Editor of BBC Essex in conjunction with the BBC's regional head of programmes and other interested parties within the BBC.

I cannot fathom the precise reason, but other e-mails to me have suggested that the increasing cost of football commentary was a contributory factor.

I am quite frankly amazed that you have taken this decision without consulting those who presumably you would want to listen to your programme.

I would like to know what the "increasing costs" are. As I understand it, neither the football club, nor the league, nor any licensing authority has imposed any additional charge this year - so I fail to see what other costs could have gone up any more than the increase in the BBC licence fee.

I would welcome the opportunity of discussing this with those responsible for the decision and to that end would like to arrange to meet with the relevant parties at your earliest convenience.

FYI I will be contacting the Colchester Supporters groups and suggest it might be worth meeting with them at the same time.

As part of our remit, the Shrimpers Trust met with the club today as part of our regular liaison initiatives and I can confirm that they are as disappointed as us with this decision.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible

Regards

Paul FitzGerald
Shrimpers Trust - Chairman

BBC Essex's response is as follows:

Dear Sir, thank you for your E Mail.

We are not ceasing commentary. Live commentary will still be an important part of the Saturday Sports programme and also play a part in the brand new show, every Tuesday evening.
There is more information on our website including an interview with Editor, Gerald Main. Click the link below or go to bbc.co.uk/essex and click on BBC Essex in the left hand menu.

http://www.bbc.co.uk:80/essex/content/articles/2008/07/22/new_footie_season_feature.shtml

I hope this will give you the information you need and the full facts behind the decision making. I'd encourage you to listen to the new shows when they start next month. We value feedback, especially when we make changes, so any comments you have, once you've had a chance to listen, will be really useful to us.

Lynne Wilson | Assistant Editor, BBC Essex

So the Trust has also been fobbed off with the standard response and I have to add Paul that was exactly the same one TLG got this morning and this after I got her name from contacts I know at the station.

Paul has passed on that he has responded to their rather bland email and have asked them to respond to the questions in the Trusts' email, especially about what costs have increased, and which customers or affected organisations they consulted when making this decision.