The team at Cheshire FM are celebrating the awarding of a five year Community Radio licence by Ofcom. The station applied for a licence near two years ago and have just recently completed a temporary broadcast using an RSL licence.
Founder and Chairman David Duffy said ?This is fantastic news. This is what we have been working towards for the past two years ? a truly local community radio service for Mid Cheshire. This is what we have been working towards for the past two years ? a truly local community radio service for Mid Cheshire.? He added ?This will be a distinct service for the local area and there will be opportunities for local people to get involved in everything we do.?
As well as producing radio programmes, Cheshire FM is committed to providing radio training for people in the community. Cheshire FM previously operated under the Restricted Service Licence scheme whereby a short-term licence of up to 28 days is granted by OFCOM.
Cheshire FM was on-air from 8th April to 1st May in Northwich. Commenting on the recent trial broadcast, David Duffy said “2006 has been a fantastic year for us with an immensely successful 24-day broadcast in April. Now after a long wait, the efforts of many people and countless organisations that supported the station have been recognized and rewarded.?
The station is now searching for permanent premises to uses as studio facilities. An audience survey report commissioned for the station in 2004 indicated that up to 92,000 people across Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich will be able to listen to the station when it comes on-air later this year.