The controller was only covering his backside with an airline that does not normally operate into that airport. I.e. the radar heading and levels he gave where not terrain safe beyond a certain point hence the radio fail instructions to turn back to VOR if no comms by a set radial! A local operator would be familiar with this. I could understand what he wanted but it was totally different from what BA would be used to! Once he went back to basic's heads/levels to ILS there was no problem!