COUNCILLOR Iris Andersen has spoken out about her concerns as plans to freeze BBC license fees are being considered.

The government has announced that the BBC license fee is set to be scrapped by 2027 with funding frozen for the next two years.

The move would leave thousands of pensioners in Hampshire without their favourite programmes to watch, says councillor Iris Andersen who expressed concerns for the elderly. She said it is not about politics, adding: "I think the impact, if I had to choose to keep my food, heating and television license, I'd choose to listen to my radio [instead of television license]. This is not politics, this is fighting for what they have taken from the people."

She continued: "I'm appalled to know they took the licenses away from the pensioners because for some, they only have a television to watch. Some don't go out and some of them are housebound.

"Lets get back to basics. let's give pensioners their TV licenses back."

Annual payments, which normally changes on April 1 each year, is expected to be kept at the current rate of £159 until April 2024, with additional ways of funding being considered by Nadine Dorries.

Raising concerns for BBC staff redundancies, Iris said: "If this is going to cause BBC redundancies, which it will, because they wont be getting the money in, will programmes be getting cut?

They have the iPlayer, which is completely free, are they going to cut them down With BBC? You get 24-hour news, which I find really helpful. I get it quite ahead of time on my phone, which is really good."

On August 1 2020, the BBC announced TV lincenses would no longer be free for those aged over 75, with those who claim pension credit entitled to a free TV license. 

Casting worry for the elderly who do not claim pension credit, Iris said:

"Lets get back to basics. let's give back pensioners pensioners their TV licenses back."

Culture secretary, Nadine Dorries said the next announcement concerning the BBC’s licence fee “will be the last” as a new funding model is being considered for when the latest deal expires in 2027.

She wrote on Twitter: “This licence fee announcement will be the last.

“The days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors are over.

“Time now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting and selling great British content.”

speaking about the most popular TV channels in her household, Iris said: "I use BBC One and BBC Two, ITV and maybe Channel 5. I love the radio. I think the radio really is a lifeline."

"They have taken something away from the pensioners, which is their TV licenses. And that is really hard for somebody that is housebound and is in doors and relies on that for a bit of company. I know they've got the radio, but it's not the same."