5 Live controller defends Salford stance

BBC Radio 5 Live controller Adrian Van Klaveren was today forced to defend his decision not to permanently relocate to Salford in a live radio interview on his own station.

In July, Van Klaveren joined a string of BBC senior executives who will not be moving their families close to the new BBC North headquarters in Salford Quays. He will instead rent a flat in the area for the next two years, which will be paid for by the BBC's relocation scheme.

While appearing on Victoria Derbyshire's morning programme, Van Klaveren dismissed suggestions that he would not have been given the controller's job two years ago had he not committed to the Salford move.

"I don't think that's true at all," he said. "The commitment that was asked for and the commitment I made was to do the job. I was completely honest at the time of the interview."

He added: "There are timings that just don't work without having a very difficult impact on my family. I said I am in a difficult position with children and I have been saying that is the case for the last two years."

After Derbyshire asked how licence fee payers would feel about being forced to pay the rent on Van Klaveren's flat in Salford, he replied: "These are complicated issues. This is not about postcodes, it is about establishing Salford as a broadcasting centre for the BBC and the quality programmes we make there.

"There are other options [under the BBC relocation scheme] in terms of licence fee payers' money that would be more expensive to the BBC.

"What we have is a transition that is complicated. There are clearly costs and issues with that move. I think in terms of looking at long-term value and benefit, does Salford make sense for the BBC in the long term? Yes it does. People have to look at the long term, not the short term."

Van Klaveren also suggested that his job controlling the strategic commissioning and scheduling of 5 Live was more suited to commuting to BBC North.