LISTENERS have put pen to paper over the sudden axing of popular community programmes from Delta FM. A petition has been launched and calls have been flooding in from people outraged by the decision to remove those programmes which they believe have made Delta unique. But radio bosses claim that listener figures are falling and that advertisers don't want to advertise during specialist community air time. The decision has come as a shock to presenters, some of whom have been with the station since its launch in Alton in November 1992, as Wey Valley Community Radio. Well known to listeners, they were told last week that their programmes were to go, without explanation and with no apparent recognition of years of hard work and dedication. While the opportunity was there to record a final programme, some hadn't the heart. Presenter of The Big Band Show for 10 years, Farnham based David Seal believes the demise of community programmes could have a serious impact on listener figures. He claims Delta has reneged on the part of its Ofcom Licence agreement that calls for 11 hours of specialist music programmes a week. "There will always be a need for this kind of music and we feel badly let down. "It is these that made Delta different – they gave the station its individuality." Referring to the community programmes as "the backbone of radio" Delta Discussion presenter Linda Joffy felt her magazine programme provided "a valuable service to the local community". After ploughing more than three years of effort into the programme, she was disappointed not to continue. She told The Herald: "Delta Discussion provided a modest platform to a wide range of interesting people in the Delta area, many of them unsung heroes involved in charitable or other community work or activities." Sunday Night Request Show host, Paul Le Feuvre feels let down. A founder member of Wey Valley Radio, only last month Mr Le Feuvre celebrated 24-years on air, the early years with Treloar Hospital Radio. He finds it hard to believe that having once been hailed the most listened-to programme on Delta, defying all normal Sunday night ratings, his programme should be considered redundant. He said he can accept that management wants to change the station policy, but not the way in which it has been done. "There was no pre-warning, no chance to bow out. It showed a lack of respect for both listeners and volunteer presenters." He is not convinced by the RAJAR listener- figure argument and fears the station may have been plunged into "crisis management". "I know for a fact that in June last year, 58 per cent of people listening to local radio in NE Hampshire were tuned into my show," said Mr Le Feuvre, who regards this episode as "a sad end to many years of loyal service". In Alton, folk at Orchard House have raised a petition urging that his programme be reinstated. Campaign leader Marie Tracey said: "We love Paul - everybody listens to him." A listener from Liss helped spread the word at a musical awards event at Lakeside at the weekend and calls have been flooding into The Herald, asking why Paul and Co are no longer on air. Nick Bottriel, senior scheme manager for Extra Care Sheltered Housing, said his residents had been "very shocked" to lose the Sunday Night Request Show. "Paul did a terrific service for the community - he enabled people to communicate and a keep in touch." He, like many, is now boycotting the station. Speaking on behalf of new owners Tindle Radio South, programme controller Andy Green explained that two weeks ago, having analysed independent audience-listening figures for the past six months, the decision was taken to ditch programmes that were not performing well. "If the figure is less than 1,000 advertisers will not pay for space - they need to know people are listening," he said. The result is that while some programmes will be kept and enhanced, the majority of volunteer presenters have had their shows chopped. The plan is to plough more resources into weekend sports, and travel programmes, for a BBC-style formula of Sunday mornings with 50s, 60s and 70s music.
