Do we stay? Do we go? Or do we just go down the gurgler?

These are the options left for the cash-strapped Village Radio after a plea for help and understanding to the Tauranga City Council went unresolved last night.

Keith Spooner, former Village Radio announcer and now avid fan. "Don't let it die."

'They were sympathetic,” says Village station manager Bonnie Leonard after talks with Mayor Stuart Crosby and councillors Kelvin Clout and Catherine Stewart.

'But there were no solutions”.

Bonnie says the pioneer radio station has public donations to see them through to Christmas. 'But if our problems aren't resolved by then, we're down the tubes.”

The station was set up as a working museum exhibit at the Historic Village in 1986, with a team of volunteers playing museum from last century for a 21st century audience.

Bonnie says the Historic Village is just a 'mish-mash” now. There are no tourists, no revenue and there's no reason to stay.

'The site is no longer what it was intended to be. We are the only thing left of the original working museum and we no longer have a role there.”

Village Radio was hoping Tauranga City Council would grant them an abatement from their $1200 a month rent, power and phone costs. But the council stood firm.

'They seem to think it's reasonable.”

Bonnie says Village Radio feels they need to re-locate to survive, and find a building that suits steam radio.

'Perhaps Village radio could join a circuit of boutique museums with Classic Flyers, Brain Watkins House and Mission House. Then tourists would have reason to come see us, listen to our music and donate a gold con.”

TCC is not keen on that idea, he says. The council won't make immediate concessions to Village Radio but wants them to stay at the historic site because it plans to resurrect the facility.

'Council has gone away to look at options. We wait with hope.”

Meanwhile Village Radio continues to pour out nostalgia to a dedicated and loyal audience in Tauranga.