[cma-l] Community Radio Fund - government response

[Steve Buckley]

Dear all

We have received now an initial response from the Government to the 
joint open letter to the Prime Minister sent on 20 July. The 
response, from Sion Simon MP, Minister for Culture Industries, says 
"the Government recognises the importance of community radio and its 
contribution to the communities which they serve". The letter 
outlines current government measures and proposals to support 
community radio and concludes: "DCMS will continue to work with other 
Government Departments and Agencies to identify other sources of 
funding, specifically where there are community cohesion and social 
gain objectives, for community radio."

It is a vague commitment, but it indicates tacit acceptance of our 
case that the Community Radio Fund is inadequate. We need to keep up 
the pressure!

The petition has now reached over 2500 signatures. Today, for the 
first time, it entered the top 50 of all open petitions (there are 
currently 4446 open petitions, so we are nearly into the top 1 per 
cent). This also puts it on the first page of open petitions (by 
size) on the No10 website. Of course we would like many more.

With just 2.5 weeks to go before the petition closes, lets all give 
this a final push to move it up the top 50! We might not make it to 
the top (70,000 needed!) but we can make a good showing and 
strengthen the case for community radio funding. Please keep 
reminding people to sign up and to encourage their friends to do the 
same. And keep the public debate going, in the media and on the airwaves.

A copy of the letter from Sion Simon is available here:
http://www.sheffieldlive.org/lettertogordonbrown/

Best wishes

Steve



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