Spirit FM: The fight goes on
The latest on the campaign and petition
The fight to save Spirit FM is far from over, as support for the Chichester station continues to flood in.
Bauer Media acquired the station in 2019 and has now announced Spirit FM will join its ‘Hits Radio Brand Network’. The integration will mean that Spirit FM will rebrand as ‘Greatest Hits Radio’, a move which has upset thousands of loyal listeners.
A petition asking Bauer to reconsider has exceeded 7,000 signatures and a large number of letters were sent to Ofcom before a consultation ended last week. The Observer backed the campaign last week with a front-page poster pleading ‘Save our Spirit FM’.
Steve Freegard has been leading the charge to save the West Sussex radio station. He said: “A huge thank you to everyone that has signed the petition, responded to the Ofcom consultation, written to your local MP, displayed the poster and taken part in our Virtual Protest. The response has been overwhelming and goes to show just how much everyone values what Spirit FM brings to our community and what we can achieve when we come together on something that matters to us.
“This is obviously a good sign, but this doesn’t mean that we can rest, we still need to keep applying pressure. So please ask your friends, colleagues and neighbours to sign the petition and to write to their local MPS. Together we can save Spirit FM.”
Clare Apel was a director of the board of Spirit FM in the late 90s and early 00s. Clare, who now sits as a district and city councillor, said: “It was evident from my experience that Spirit FM really had the message of the local area. It is a programme which really has the measure of the importance of a real local radio. It is evident and so important that local people have a place where local issues can be given good publicity in a very sympathetic way. We have a very good local paper, however being able to speak on a local radio station is so important. It would be so sad if this large company would deny Chichester and surrounds being heard on local radio. I urge you to please rethink and let Spirit FM continue to act as a local radio station for the people of Chichester and surrounding areas.”
Chichester MP Gillian Keegan has been giving her support to the campaign and has thanked those who have signed the petition. In her column, which you can read on page 26, she highlights the community support and fundraising activities the station has been involved in. She added: “The huge impact of their work is spread far and wide across our community and during these very difficult times their community spirit and practical support has been a lifeline for many.”