[Spencer]

Out of interest why do people seem cool with local stations being gobbled up by  GHR/other brands but are simultaneously aghast at BBC local radio changes?

Having lost my job in the big GHR takeover three years ago, I can't claim to be one of Bauer's biggest fans. And there are times when I do wonder where the most vocal critics of the BBC LR changes were when so many areas were losing their local commercial stations.

But ultimately I have to accept it was a commercial decision, and with regulation set to continue becoming lighter as radio transitions towards the level playing field of an IP based future, it was always going to happen one day.

That just leaves the BBC as the only provider of local radio in many areas, and so I can see why a lot of people are angry that rather than capitalising on the opportunity to really own the local media landscape when so many others have exited it, they seem to be retreating too.