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Jul 2020

Last Updated: 08/07/2020

Harrogate

Harrogate MP gives 'cautious welcome' to Stray FM assurances

by Calvin Robinson

| 08 Jul, 2020

Bauer Media have responded to a letter from Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, over the future of the station.

Bauer Media announced that Stray FM would become Greatest Hits Radio in May.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has given a cautious welcome to assurances from Bauer Media over the future of Stray FM.

Mr Jones wrote to the owners of the local radio station following its decision to come off air and become Greatest Hits Radio.

Since then, more than 3,000 people have signed a petition set up by the local Liberal Democrats to save Stray FM with hundreds submitting stories of what the station means to them.

Andrew Jones MP writes to Bauer Media for assurance over the station he calls a “winning formula”.

Thousands sign petition to save Stray FM

In response to Mr Jones, Dee Ford, group director of Bauer Radio, said:

“Our plan at this stage is to deliver local news much as it is currently delivered by Stray FM.

In fact, we expect access to the size and scope of the wider Bauer news team will enable the local team to better cover major local stories and issues.

“With respect to your question concerning the retention of a Harrogate-based news team, while we are yet to make any final decisions on specific staffing requirements, we expect to retain these roles.”

Ms Ford added that Greatest Hits Radio will still have locally based journalists and businesses will have “improved options” for targeting their advertising.

She said any money raised locally for its charity, Cash for Kids, would also go towards supporting local children.

Mr Jones said he welcomed the assurances from Ms Ford, but added that the “devil will be in the detail”.

He said:

“This is positive movement on the issues local people have been raising and, frankly, a much more optimistic position than I expected we would be in. Any new arrangements for our local radio have huge shoes to fill and it is good to hear that several key principles about keeping it local, supporting local organisations and prioritising local advertising are understood and will be kept.

“However, we now need to see what those principles will mean in reality; how they will manifest themselves in what we hear when we tune in.”

“So, alongside local businesses and our community, I want to meet with senior management at Bauer Media to hear exactly how the promised local news will be delivered, practical examples of the community support they expect to do and the kinds of packages they will offer to local advertisers.

“It would be great too if we could retain some sort of local branding so that, if we can confirm the news content and the community and business support, the station doesn’t feel like a one-size-fits all operation even when it is still very much grounded in the community.

“In conclusion, this is progress and I am pleased certain principles about being a locally-based community-grounded radio station are confirmed. As ever, the devil will be in the detail and that is what we need to look at next.”

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Harrogate MP gives 'cautious welcome' to Stray FM assurances

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