I AM pleased that the BBC director-general, Mark Thompson, has decided that withdrawing BBC Oxford’s local TV news bulletins would be a retrograde step (Wednesday’s Oxford Mail).

I hope BBC Radio Oxford’s distinct programming will also receive backing.

It is important to have news and programming about what is going on in our own community, supplementing national and international programmes.

I value BBC Oxford’s output and sincerely hope that it will retain strong local content.

Van Coulter Executive member for leisure services Oxford City Council