ANGER AT RUSHED DIGITAL INTRODUCTION

The announcement by the Government that all UK radio stations will switch over to Digital frequencies early in 2015 has drawn an angry response from Councillors in the West of the County.

Peer Phillips, Lib Dem Cllr for Bishops Castle and Onny Valley, explained "The Government once again has totally failed to take into account the impact of hits pronouncements on rural areas.

"In areas like ours topography plays a big part in deciding if you can receive a signal or not. Already this year we are going to see the switchover to Digital TV and despite years of badgering no-one in either Government or the TV sector has been able to give us a definitive answer about how many rural residents are going to lose a signal. Now it looks like we are going to have the same treatment over radio.

"In practical terms many households are going to have to get a satellite system even if it is only to get a radio signal. It will also mean considerable rewiring for those who already have a system as each radio will now need its own socket."

Heather Kidd, Councillor for Chirbury and Worthen added "The other aspect the Government has failed to consider is the extra waste this is going to create. Our family has five radios and two car radios which are going to be rendered useless overnight. Multiply that up to everyone in the UK and that is a serious mountain of waste going into landfill if we are note careful. It would be much better to phase this in gradually and fund a scheme whereby analogue radios can be recycled locally."

Peter will be putting a motion before Shropshire Council in the near future requesting the Government to rethink this measure. He will also be brining it up at the County Council Network, the UK wide forum for County Councils.

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