On the Ayr...West Sound slashes local output

Jun 19 2009 by Stuart Wilson

AYR’S biggest radio station has slashed its town centre output.

West Sound is broadcasting only ONE week-day show a day from its Holmston Road base. And the station is taking feeds from as far away as Aberdeen to replace its old schedule.

Bosses claim the radical move won’t affect the level of local content on the station.

But listeners reacted with anger on Monday when finding their shows being broadcast hundreds of miles from Ayrshire.

The cutback by West Sound’s parent company Bauer has also sparked concern in political circles.

Ayr MSP John Scott confessed: “I’m very disappointed that only one show per day will be broadcast from Ayr.

“It’s vital that a local radio station maintains its local identity, and while I appreciate West FM will remain, I’m concerned about the local content on West Sound.

“The entertainment value of local radio is that the DJs are, by and large, local people who give an extra dimension and can be greatly respected people within the community.

“So any reduction of that has to be with the deepest regret and should be resisted wherever possible.”

Kenny Campbell’s breakfast show has survived the cull and will continue to broadcast between 7am and 11am each weekday.

But West Sound, which formed as a local radio station 27 years ago, will take syndicated shows from around Scotland for the rest of the day.

However, station director Brenda Ritchie insists the station can still retain its local identity.

She said: “Despite the shows being broadcast from elsewhere, we’ll still have local news, sport, traffic and travel feeds.

“The fact is that AM audiences are struggling, and it’s becoming harder to keep listeners engaged.

“By pulling together the best of the best presenters across the country, it will make things different.

“But the key show of the day – the breakfast show – is still coming from Ayr and Bauer Radio are very much committed to making things work here.”

The cuts have resulted in one permanent job loss along with a number of freelance posts.

But West Sound’s weekend schedule, including the Saturday night ceilidh, and shows with Tom Ferry and top Ayr lawyer Peter Lockhart, are set to stay.