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BBC under attack in Salford relocation row

16/10/2006

Shaun Woodward, the broadcasting minister at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, has criticised the BBC over its threat to pull out of plans to move several broadcasting departments to Greater Manchester.

BBC director general Mark Thompson has said that the move to the media city at Salford Quays could be abandoned if the government does not approve an inflation-busting license fee rise.

Mr Woodward told the Observer that the public expect the BBC to offer employment in places other than London and said that cynicism on the BBC's part is "unwise".

According to the newspaper, Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, is being advised by cabinet colleagues to "clip the BBC's financial wings and deny its latest request for an increase in the licence fee", especially in light of recent revelations that presenters, such as Jonathon Ross, have been granted multi-million-pound contracts.

The newspaper also claims to have seen a letter compiled by three northern regional development agencies that criticises the BBC's underinvestment in the regions.

Felicity Goodey, the chief executive of Salford's media city project was adamant the BBC move would go ahead, especially as property company Peel Holdings has invested so much time and money into the scheme.

"We wouldn't be working as hard as we are and Peel certainly wouldn't be spending as much money as they are on architects, designers, surveyors and consultants if we didn't think that this is going to happen," she told the Salford Advertiser.



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