Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 19 June 2008

CUMBRIA will be “marginalised” if ITV scraps Border Television, the county council claims.

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The council has backed a hard-hitting response to the official consultation on plans to merge Border with Tyne Tees.

ITV wants to streamline its regional set up as competition for advertising increases.

If the proposals go through, Border’s Lookaround news programme will be replaced by a six-minute opt out in a bulletin from Gateshead.

Its studios in Carlisle will almost certainly close.

TV regulator Ofcom is consulting on the changes.

County Council leader Tim Stoddard told the council’s cabinet that Border was a “vital part” of the local media.

He said: “Our communities are widespread and sparse and need to know what is going on in Cumbria.”

Mr Stoddard said the county council had lobbied other local authorities in the region to ensure a united voice of opposition to ITV’s plans.

Cumbria county council’s formal submission to Ofcom says: “The proposed withdrawal will mean that England’s second-largest county is marginalised.

“A more sensible balance could be struck to ensure that a more robust news-gathering presence could remain in the county to sustain the quality and variety of local content.”

Ofcom has the final say on ITV’s plans. It is expected to make a ruling by March next year.