Sounds of Brass presenter Philip Hunt has told 4BR that there has been a very positive response by the BBC to the many letters and messages of support for the continuation of brass band programmes on BBC Local Radio.

Think again

Philip told 4BR: "The consultation period has now come to an end and the Trust have asked the BBC Management to think again about their proposed cuts to the Local Radio budget."

BBC response

The BBC response was as follows:

"We have been asked to think again about Local Radio, where the impact of the cuts in budgets is regarded as having too great an impact on our ability to be distinctive in a local market.

I am sure anyone working at one of our Local Radio stations will be pleased by this news.

It is also gratifying to see that so many listeners and viewers value public service broadcasting at a local level and wrote to the Trust to say so. Put simply, it is clear many listeners and viewers feel passionately about what you do."

I'm hopeful that the threat to brass band music programmes has receded and that we shall be hearing news to that effect before April, when the Management has to confirm what its plans arePhilip Hunt

Not out of the woods

Philip added: "This does not mean we are out of the wood yet, as the total amount of cuts in cash terms have not been reduced, so money has to be saved somewhere, if not from Local Radio.

However I'm hopeful that the threat to brass band music programmes has receded and that we shall be hearing news to that effect before April, when the Management has to confirm what its plans are."

He concluded: "May I thank everyone for their support on this crucial matter to the banding world."