SFX closure plan

The closure of the BBC Special Effects department has been proposed.

The proposal involves the loss of all 22 posts in the department at the end of May 2003.

Management have said the reason for the proposal is "that in a declining [physical effects] industry with falling demand from the BBC, it no longer fits with our core operation and is unsustainable in the long term".

Negotiations between Corporation management and BECTU on the proposals are currently taking place.

BBC Special Effects provides physical effects for television productions that include pyrotechnics, atmospherics, animatronics and models. The department is part of BBC Resources Ltd and is based at Park Western, West London.