VARIOUS organisations in York have protested against proposed BBC cuts to local radio, and in particular to Radio York.

City of York Council leader James Alexander and chief executive Kersten England have sent a written response to the consultation led by the BBC Trust. It has been signed jointly by 13 other organisations across the city, representing leisure and culture, higher education, the voluntary sector, and the emergency and health services.

The response has been sent to Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust, and Mark Thompson, BBC Director General, outling the signatories’ “profound concerns”.

Coun Alexander said: “We wanted to send a strong message to the BBC that the city of York supports its local BBC station.”

Earlier this year, the council’s opposition leader Ian Gillies wrote to oppose the cuts. He said: “My concern for Radio York is that it serves England’s largest county, and is totally different to the metropolitan areas of Leeds and Sheffield. My belief is that it is appreciated and owned by its listeners more so than other stations because of the mix of rural, coast and city.”