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Ronnie Wood pledges support behind BBC Local Radio campaign

The BBC is making cuts to local radio stations across the UK

Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones performs at TD Garden on June 14, 2013 in Boston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Ronnie Wood opposes cuts to BBC's local radio service. (AP)

Ronnie Wood has pledged his support behind a campaign to keep BBC regional radio stations local to the communities they service.

The Rolling Stones legend was performing at a tribute concert to Jeff Beck last night where he was pictured backstage holding up a sign which read "Keep BBC Local Radio local."

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The image was shared on Twitter by veteran DJ Nicky Horne who said the guitarist was a "big fan" of local radio and "wants it to stay local".

Why is BBC cutting costs on local radio?

The BBC recently announced a great raft of changes to the broadcaster's local radio output. Under the corporation's plans, there will be much more content sharing than there is currently, meaning the shame programming will appear across several regions, reducing the need for more local shows.

Many local radio stations will be reduced to two shows a day as part of a cost cutting measure enacted by the BBC.

Critics of the proposals say they will harm regional journalism and also listeners who rely on the stations for news and information in the local area.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 3: Ronnie Wood (L)  and Jeff Beck at the 2008 Classic Rock Awards, Park Lane Hotel, London, November 3, 2008. (Photo by Will Ireland/Classic Rock Magazine/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Ronnie Wood with Jeff Beck in 2008. (Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The proposals would see programming being shared across regions which currently run their own individual shows.

Currently, all 39 of the BBC's local stations broadcast their own afternoon programming but that will be cut to 18 with the likes of Derby, Nottingham and Stoke each sharing a show.

BBC staff also announced they would be taking strike action in opposition to the proposals which would lead to the loss of around 48 jobs.

In a memo to its members, the trade union National Union of Journalists said: “Industrial action isn’t something we resort to easily but the BBC have made it clear that the offer on the table regarding programme-sharing is their final one and they now intend to move forward with their plans, starting with advertising some new roles including those of presenter/producer.”

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