Casualty will move from Bristol to Cardiff in 2011
26 March 2009
BECTU has today expressed regret at the BBC's decision to move production of Casualty from Bristol to Cardiff.
The decision, announced today by the BBC's Finance Committee, was trailed last year when BBC management announced the result of its Network Supply Review.
The review confirmed the BBC's decision to make 17% of its output in the Nations and indicated that it was likely that Casualty would be transferred to Cardiff to meet part of that commitment.
The prospect of the move, which BECTU questioned on cost grounds, provoked a campaign supported by Bristol business and South West Screen to Keep Casualty in Bristol. It was estimated that relocation of Casualty would cost the local economy nearly £25million a year.
Commenting on today's decision, BBC supervisory official, Helen Ryan, said:
"We regret today's announcement but sadly there was an inevitability about the move given that Casualty represents 7% of the BBC's 17% commitment."
More than 208 cast, crew and production staff will be affected by the decision. Relocation is planned to take place in 2011, although it remains unclear where and how the production will be sited.
"BECTU's job now is to support our members by maximising the chances for redeployment in Bristol; we will also want the BBC to make it attractive for staff, who face massive disruption as a result of this decision, to move with the production to Cardiff.
"Consultations about the move are expected to take several months and we will approach these talks wanting to ensure that there are no compulsory redundancies" Helen Ryan explained.
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