WITH reference to the BBC Radio Solent reshuffle', I am both surprised and saddened by the way the staff changes were imposed. As an avid listener from the old BBC South & West days, and which I consider was far superior in it's local make-up, I suggest that the current Radio Solent set up is partially to blame for the said decline in listener numbers. This station is supposed to cover Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, but fails I feel on two counts irrespective of any age group? Firstly the coverage for Dorset is abysmal, especially west of Bournemouth' IOW doesn't have much better, whilst in Hampshire the area from Southampton eastwards tends to hog the limelight.

Secondly, after 7pm weekdays and 2pm Sunday, Radio Solent effectively disappears into South Coast Radio & others leaving any reference to Hampshire & Dorset quite minimal. I am sure Bridport listeners couldn't care less generally about matters in Kent. Others and I share this feeling have the likely turn off? Yes, I appreciate some tweaking must occur in all businesses, but I hope this re-organisation doesn't lead Radio Solent to degenerate into the continuous moronic drone of pop type music as offend up by the surrounding commercial stations. In my opinion the current offering by Solent is quite good although I would appreciate a wider range of music (too much like Radio 2 at the moment), plus more in the way of documentary type programmes, all of a local mature to suit all of the local ears, again for all age groups.

W J METTYER, Romsey