At least 98 jobs at BBC Monitoring are to be cut as part of
an extensive restructuring. Monitoring has been set a tough savings target of
£4m from its current budget of £13.2m, which has to be achieved by April 2017.
About 40% of the UK-based posts are being cut - there are currently 320 staff,
around half of whom are located at overseas units. The monitoring service is
also to be relocated from Caversham Park in Reading, its base since 1943, to
central London by 2020. BBC Radio Berkshire which is also based at Caversham
Park, will also have to move and is looking for new premises in the Reading
area - they hope somewhere that is more publicly accessible. An edition of the
BBCs Antiques Roadshow was filmed in the grounds of Caversham Park on 26 June,
there were about 3,500 visitors. It is likely to be broadcast some time this
autumn or winter. The historic Caversham Park mansion will be put up for sale
by the BBC and although the building and some of its extensive grounds would be
protected from development, its future is uncertain. (DK, MWB, JK) A feature on
BBC Monitoring's history: Caversham
Park: End of an era for BBC listening station - BBC News After 75 years
in Berkshire, BBC Monitoring is moving from Caversham Park to London. Here is
the story of the stately home at the centre of it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-36712152 (via Chris Greenway)
(BDXC/August 2016-U.K. & Ireland News)