[Andrew]

Arguably it may have been an easier sell for the BBC to effectively axe BBC Local Radio as we know it and replace it with a new service with local opt outs.  It might make listeners and those DJs that remain feel like it's something exciting and new rather than a station being a shadow of it's former self.

There are two issues with these current changes, the programme sharing, but also the content

In many cases they are going from an older established presenter who knows the area talking about serious grown up topics, with decent speech content, to a younger presenter two counties away who has little interest in local issues, filling their shows with last night’s Telly and filler generic topics, not mentioning any place name to avoid alienating people, and playing loads of music.

I can’t see some of the younger presenters playing music appealing to the typical local radio listener. They will lose the oldies and not gain any youngsters.

If there was a show that was regional but with the same content as a local show from 10 years ago, they’d probably get away with it.

In my area, local at breakfast and drive, but Yorkshire wide (Leeds, Sheffield, York) at all other times, maybe entire north wide at very low listening times such as 7-10pm but with the same speech content would probably have been fine. Also I don’t think any show should be national.

Also they have to actual admit to what they are doing, just like the BBC News Channel, they are making changes but hoping people won’t notice.