Buy a radio and save some bandwidth on the co-ax.
Actually, I'm sorry to see local radio services (or any services) being dropped but VM may see that these are available already via analogue FM or DAB and that the bandwidth can be better utilised for other purposes. The cost of carrying these services may not be seen as justifiable when compared with the perceived value that they provide. They may also be trying to simplify the process of merging the disparate ex-franchise platforms.