Thousands more back Stray FM campaign launched by Harrogate Lib Dems

And hundreds more have shared stories about what the popular radio station means to them.

The Lib Dems launched their campaign last month after station owners Bauer Media Group revealed plans to rebrand it as Greatest Hits Radio.

Coun Pat Marsh, leader of the Lib Dems on Harrogate Borough Council, wrote to bosses at Bauer urging them to rethink their decision.

She added: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have joined our campaign in just a matter of weeks, it’s a real testament to just how important it is to the community that we save Stray FM. Reading so many people’s personal stories of what Stray FM means to them has been nothing short of truly heart-warming.

“This is not a done deal. There are many avenues that we’re exploring and we will do all we can to see Stray FM continue.”

The Nidderdale Voices column with Julie and Mike Blacker, owners of Olley’s Italian restaurant

German-based Bauer has said it will retain local news and information as well as traffic and travel, but it has given no guarantees about where content will be generated and how local it will be.

It said a regional drive time show covering Yorkshire and Lincolnshire is planned, but the remaining air time will follow a national schedule.

Judith Rogerson, the Lib Dems' former parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: "The stories that people have told us show just how much Stray FM is a cherished local service.

"It will be sorely missed if it goes."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

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