Welsh DAB multiplex loses its Voice

Online Welsh community station Voice Radio, which was available on the South East Wales DAB multiplex, has stopped broadcasting because of a lack of funding.

The station – supported by organisations including Gwent Police and Caerphilly County Borough Council – also ran annual RSLs on FM, but announced last week that it had ended programmes.

A statement on the website for the Rhymney-based station reads: “It is with regret that we inform you our listeners that Voice Radio has stopped broadcasting as of midnight on July 20th 2011. Due to lack of funding the station will sadly close its door on the 31st July 2011. We would like to thank you all for your continued support over the last 5 years which made this station such a great success. We have had a great time and some wonderful experiences and adventures. We would like to say a huge thank you to all our presenters, committee and Volunteers for all their hard work, commitment and dedication.”

Going for the last five and a half years, the station said it provided ‘educational, recreational, social and creative activities for all people living within the area covering Caerphilly County Borough (which is recognised as being socially and materially deprived), in order to enhance their development, extend their skills and experiences and achieve their full potential by participating in positive activities otherwise unavailable.’

A former employee of the station told the Gwent Gazette that attempts had been made by volunteers to take over the station but they’d been unsuccessful. Station Manager Chris Williams told the paper: “It is devastating and will have a big impact on the local community. The schools in particular will be hit hard. Because of the school holidays, we will lose six weeks’ worth of funding, which amounts to £6,500 – they can’t afford it because of cutbacks with the local education authority. It is very disappointing – we were going from strength to strength.”