MERIDIAN has countered claims it is deserting Kent by "coming home" to a £2m television studio in the heart of the county.

The new facilities in the Maidstone Studios, Vinters Park, are equipped with the latest technology and designed to be a powerful weapon in the ratings war with the BBC in Tunbridge Wells.

The new studios are in the same rooms used by TVS news staff before the company lost its licence to Meridian in the early 1990s. That decision prompted Meridian to move out of Vinters Park to studios on an industrial estate in New Hythe.

In recent months, the broadcaster has come under fire for its plan to switch presentation of its news programmes to Hampshire, leading some critics to question its commitment to the county.

The new strategy, prompted by the merger of Granada and Carlton into a single ITV, led to the high-profile defection of Meridian Tonight presenter Geoff Clark to the BBC.

But Charles Allen, the ITV chief executive who officially opened the ITV Meridian South-Eastern News Centre, told guests his commitment to regional news was stronger than ever.

ITV spent £180m a year on news and was investing £40m across the country, including £2m in the new facilities at Vinters Park and a local bureau in Ashford.

"Talent and technology are the way forward, it's not about bricks and mortar," he said. ITV was putting news "at the heart of our operation". "The money's all going on screen and journalistic talent."

Roger Gale, MP for Thanet North and a former journalist, attended the opening ceremony. He said he had been worried about the decision to switch presentation to Hampshire. But his concerns had lifted after seeing the new studios.

He said: "This is a purpose-built television studio, has always been a studio and, please God, always will be. So, in a sense, it's coming home."

Lindsay Charlton, Meridian's managing director, admitted re-organisation had been controversial. But the new facilities, including two satellite vehicles, would enable the company to be quicker with the news.

He said: "Editorially, we are as strong as ever. We have more cameras on the road and in 2005, viewers won't notice any difference in our coverage. I'm determined that we continue to take on our local BBC opposition and beat them in the ratings."

According to figures provided by Meridian, Meridian Tonight, the flagship news programme, continues to enjoy a sizeable ratings lead over the BBC's South East Today despite the Clark move.

Philip Hornby, has replaced Clark at Meridian Tonight. He presents the programme for the first time from Hampshire on December 6. He started as a trainee journalist with TVS in Vinters Park 20 years ago.

He said: "We're aware we are building on a proud tradition and inheritance here and it's our job with these great new facilities to improve on that and make our programmes better and even more relevant for our viewers.

“This is where the editorial agenda of each day will be set, here in the heart of the south east region."