Westminster Extra Friday 2 October 2020 Find us on facebook.com/westminsterextra NEWS 5 New BBC boss hears MP suggest it has lost sight of its ‘cultural importance to this country’ Battle lines redrawn in studios scrap9 may Letters Lev ef PHOTO: BBC PARLIAMENT PHOTO: R e bur Tor THE new Director by TOM FOOT threatened if we are not Str else had submitted an Ge General of the BBC has investing in the BBC. Se application. A win in our studios battle Ma r nising the unique take in this for recog Ho venue payer has a s our heritage on. to a purpose-built nd original place in No blamed a decade of Radio 1’s John Peel “Those studios have submitted an applicati many of too, though, a d by the studios, “A Change.org petition K I AM delighted that ion in Stratford. But pre-war occupie Co A Change.org petit see it examples of arguably, have put istoric England have s had us would hate to g studios which, th H to save the studios ha o make broadcastin Vale on the map. under-investment for its sessions were recorded been the great resources warded the legendary es, knocked down t rve to be Maida G to save the studios has y a over 10,000 signatur flats. surely dese als can be proud aida Vale Studios a of way for luxury Loc S M showing the strength jected to preserved. e’ve won the latest Grade-II listing. The BBC ob ne to Historic that w S le feeling it inspires. haps fearing Well do le of Maida. decision to appeal against there for four decades. for the BBC. I decided to apply for likely the listing, per and the Batt G had over 10,000 The BBC are un on of their England THEO MORGAN the building to be listed ale, the depreciati ent for Digital, C to stay in Maida V estate. Departm Sutherland Avenue, W9 as, despite calls for it to hey are valuable real Media and Sport S n are either way, since t e licence fee Culture, the Grade II-listing of its The listing, applied for “There is a soul in be saved I was not aw t move The humbl W signatures, showing the famous Maida Vale by Maida Vale resident there that is amazing. But l i strength of feeling it Studios. Theo Morgan, protects it is in a residential area. Extra May 22: campaigners celebrate the listing inspires. But many of us Tim Davie, who took the building from future It is not fit for purpose.” would hate to see it over the helm from Lord development. But it Mr Davie, whose basic BBC had lost sight of its awarded Grade II-listed knocked down to make Hall on September 1, was would also significantly salary is £525,000 a year, “cultural importance to status by Historic way for luxury flats… quizzed by Labour MP decrease its sale price. added: “It’s £10 million… this country”. England in May, despite Locals can be proud that Kevin Brennan during a Mr Davie told Mr I could invest in young The BBC announced objections from the BBC. we’ve won the latest Commons committee Brennan: “The BBC is talent, apprenticeships, I closure of the studios in Mr Morgan, who lives Battle of Maida.” meeting held online on significantly down in real BBC DG: Tim Davie think it trumps it. I don’t 2018 with all music in Sutherland Avenue, The 1806 Battle of Tuesday. terms – in the last 10 think we are losing the recording facilities had said: “I decided to Maida (Calabria) Acts from The Beatles years 30 per cent in terms interested in growing the cultural soul of the moving to new premises apply for the building to between the French and and Pink Floyd to Adele of our investment. We are creative economy, and BBC.” in Stratford, east London. be listed as, despite calls British was one of many have performed at the facing massive global delivering audience Mr Brennan had The former Edwardian for it to be saved, I was during the Napoleonic studio complex and players, and if we are value, then that will be all suggested to him that the rollerskating rink was not aware that anyone Wars. Long wait is over: New arrival Ede the okapi and, inset, Oni PHOTOS: © ZSL LONDON ZOO © ZSL PHOTOS: Ede the okapi’s timely arrival London Zoo’s Oni the The 12-hour labour okapis, Oni had a long okapi gave birth to a was watched on CCTV pregnancy – close to baby girl, Ede, on by zookeepers. 16 months – so we have Sunday after an epic ZSL okapi been excitedly waiting 16-month pregnancy, keeper Gemma for Ede for a long writes Tom Foot. Metcalf said: “Like all time.” Soho’s no ghost town – Letters pages 8 & 9.