1927 saw 5IT closed as the opening of the high-powered Borough Hill transmitter enabled the creation of the Midland Region transmitting the BBC Regional Programme. Edgar was the region's founding Director and fought for the role of regional programme-making within the BBC, writing to Director-General John Reith in 1929 that the ever growing policy of centralisation in London has clearly gone a good deal further and more rapidly than public opinion here is prepared to accept and running the Midland Region as a kind of independent entrepreneur. By 1935 the Midlands Region was producing 40% of its broadcast output itself - more than any other region - and with 14 producers was largest BBC department outside London.