BIG changes are afoot at commercial radio station SGR FM –but no-one is revealing what's going on.Ipswich-based managing director Mike Stewart admitted there was a "general group consolidation" starting, but the radio station's head office in London refused to comment further.
BIG changes are afoot at commercial radio station SGR FM –but no-one is revealing what's going on.
Ipswich-based managing director Mike Stewart admitted there was a "general group consolidation" starting, but the radio station's head office in London refused to comment further.
Spokeswoman for the GWR Group Jessica Alder, who is based in London, would not say whether consolidation would mean job cuts.
She said: "It is still very early days. This is something which will develop over the next six months."
The news comes days after The Evening Star revealed that presenter Gareth Evans had decided to leave the early morning show.
He is going to a local radio station in Bedford, but other staff remain worried about their jobs.
SGR programme controller Mark Pryke said on Friday: "Gareth is leaving for family reasons.
"We have yet to agree a date for his final show and nothing has been decided on who will replace him. We're keeping all our options open."
Gareth took over the breakfast show with Bekah Fowler early in 1999 after the departure of Nick Risby. He currently co-presents the early morning show with Vicky - whose surname remains a mystery to radio listeners.
He became a popular star in Suffolk during his time at the station, and used to write a column for the Star with Bekah.
SGR is owned by GWR Group plc, and has a sister radio station in Norwich, called Broadland 102.
The group has about 40 local radio stations, and also owns the national stations Classic FM, Core, and Planet Rock.
The group also has interests in stations in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Holland, Hungary and South Africa.
GWR's local stations have held their own in a challenging quarter for music after September 11. Its network of 32 radio stations has maintained its near five million listenership per week, still holding its position as the commercial market leader in 90 per cent of its stations.
N Do you know what is going on at the radio station? If so write to The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail StarNews@eveningstar.co.uk
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