On the 27 May 2020, Bauer Media announced that the majority of the local radio licences it bought from UKRD, Wireless, Lincs FM and Celador last year will become Greatest Hits Radio from September. One of these stations is Salisbury’s Spire FM. Having been at the heart of Salisbury for over 25 years, the station is set to be rebranded as 'Greatest Hits Radio'. As quoted from Radio Today: "The enlarged Greatest Hits Radio network will operate with 9 separate drive time shows across 7 regions – North West, Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, Central, East, South, South West and Wales. The group also says it will continue to provide local news, travel, weather and other information broadly at a ‘local multiplex level’ as part of the drive to ensure each of the acquired stations has a path to a digital future. Advertising will be available at a local licence/transmitter level.. Bauer says the integration of the stations it bought last year into the ‘Hits Radio Brand Network’ will mean it becomes the largest commercial radio network in the UK, with the highest listening hours of any commercial radio brand." (Source: https://www.radiotoday.uk/2020/05/most-of-acquired-bauer-stations-to-become-greatest-hits-radio/ 

It's estimated approximately 200 jobs will be lost across all stations affected by this change. Some of those jobs will no doubt belong to those who work at Spire FM.

We are petitioning to SAVE our much loved, trusted and hugely popular radio station Spire FM. It's part of the community. The people who work on the show are local. The residents rely on the station for all their music needs, as well as local information specifically tailored to Salisbury and the surrounding areas. Whilst Bauer have said the Greatest Hits Radio will provide *some* of this, can it be as good as locally produced radio, when the broadcast is more than likely to come from a city far away such as Manchester? The proposed networked breakfast show host wouldn't be able to look out of the window and say "It's lovely here in Salisbury today", because chances are they wouldn't be in Salisbury to see the weather.

Whilst the economic situation may have played a part in this decision, it is definitely a wrong one to take. Spire FM will be hugely missed by people of all ages from across South Wiltshire & West Hampshire. 'Proper Local Radio' will no longer be 'Proper' or 'Local'. 

The City of Salisbury has been through an unprecedented time in the last 3 years with the Novichok incident and the detrimental impact that had on all those who live, work and run businesses here and now with Covid 19 and the further impact that will have on the local economy they need a local radio station more than ever....the loss of local radio support to the City will be a significant setback in Salisbury being able to move forward.

Please sign the petition, which will ultimately be forwarded to Bauer, in hope that our radio station will be saved. #DontRetireSpire.