Time 107.5FM axed after 21 years amid local radio concerns

Time 107.5FM in east London and west Essex was shut down after 21 years and rebranded as Nation Radio London, triggering local concern.

Time 107.5FM axed after 21 years amid local radio concerns

Time 107.5FM, a long-running local station serving Havering and surrounding areas, ceased original programming earlier this month after a takeover by Nation Broadcasting and rebranding as Nation Radio London. The plan is to broaden the signal across Greater London and shift away from a strict Havering focus.

The shutdown surprised listeners and staff. Neil Andrews, who hosted the breakfast show for 18 years, learned his programme had been dropped and did not get a proper on-air farewell. Because the presenters were freelancers, they were not direct staff of Lyca Media II Ltd.

The move drew criticism from Romford MP Andrew Rosindell and local fans, who questioned the loss of locally produced content. A new independent venture, All Hit Radio, is emerging from several former Time presenters. Lyca’s Raj Badhan said the group is ending its ownership of the station, while Nation Broadcasting founder Jason Bryant cast London as a key growth market for the group.

The case highlights a broader pattern in local media where ownership changes pull a neighborhood signal into a larger network. Local identity can blur when a station scales up, leaving listeners feeling detached from the community. The reliance on freelancers underlines insecurity for on-air talent when show slots end. Regulators and lawmakers may scrutinize how such changes affect public value and local voices in a crowded city market.

Highlights

The story tests how far a local voice can travel before it fades from the airwaves.