More than 3000 people have signed a petition to save Stray FM as its owners plan to merge it into a larger service.
As well as the signatures, the campaign to save Stray FM has received more than 200 stories about what the station means to local people.
The petition was set up by the local Lib Dems when the plans were announced by Bauer Media in late May. The group’s leader in Harrogate, Councillor Pat Marsh, has written to Bauer urging bosses to reconsider their decision to replace Stray FM with a national station, Greatest Hits Radio.
A regional drive time show covering Yorkshire and Lincolnshire is planned, but the remaining programmes will follow the national schedule.
Cllr Marsh said Bauer Media should “reconsider its decision and explore alternative arrangements which recognise the community asset that Stray FM is in its current form, providing ‘proper local radio’ to the area”.
The Lib Dims are against the plans to merge the local station and have rallied public support to save it.
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Cllr Marsh 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.”