Ofcom today announces the award of a further six new community radio licences, bringing the total number of community radio licences awarded to date to 99.
Community radio is a new sector of radio being introduced in the UK. It is a third tier of radio which complements the mix of services already provided by the BBC and commercial radio sectors. The characteristics of community radio are distinct from commercial radio in that the services cover a small geographical area and are provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to enrich a particular geographical community or a community of interest.
Ofcom has awarded community radio licences in the following locations:
* Stockton-on-Tees
* Chesterfield
* Nelson
* Cardiff
* Cambridge
* Aldershot
The new community radio licensees in each of these areas are:
Cross Rhythms Teesside (Stockton on Tees)
Contact: Joel Hauxwell, Teesside Christian Media, c/o 27 Saint Ann’s Terrace, Stockton on Tees TS18 2HT
Tel: 07887 553208 email: joel.hauxwell@gmail.com website: www.crossrhythmsteesside.co.uk
A radio station for the Christian community in Stockton-on-Tees in the 16-35 age group.
Trust FM (Chesterfield)
Contact: Ivan Spenceley, Chesterfield Broadcasting Network Limited, 69 Elvaston Road, North Wingfield, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S42 5HH.
Tel: 01246 851150 email: info@trustfm.co.uk website: www.trustfm.co.uk
A community service for the population of Chesterfield.
Pendle Community Radio (Nelson, Lancashire)
Contact: Shazad Shaffi, 12 Carr Road, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 7JS
Tel: 01282 723455 / 07703 575737 email: Shazad.Shaffi@ntlworld.com website: www.mwfuk.org/
This service will target the Pakistani community in Nelson (over 13% of England?s Pakistani population live in the Borough of Pendle).
Beats FM (Cardiff)
Contact: John Lenney, Unit C, Building 8, Curran Road, Butetown, Cardiff CF10 5DF
Tel: 029 2064 0500 email: info@beatsfm.com website: www.beatsfm.com
Beats FM will serve the black and multi-ethnic communities of Butetown and surrounding districts in Cardiff.
209radio (Cambridge)
Contact: Karl Hartland, 209radio Limited, Citylife House, Sturton Street, Cambridge CB1 2QF.
Tel: 01223 488418 email: getinvolved@209radio.co.uk website: www.209radio.co.uk
209radio will aim to serve the people of the City of Cambridge, with particular attention being paid to currently under-served, minority or disadvantaged communities.
Aldershot Army Radio (Aldershot, Hampshire)
Contact: Major (retired) George Coutts, Aldershot Army Radio, 1A Middle Hill, Aldershot G arrison, Aldershot, Hants GU11 1RN.
Tel: 01252 355047 email: aldershot@garrisonfm.com website: www.army.mod.uk/garrisonradio/aldershot/index.htm
A service for the soldiers, their families and MoD civilians living and working within the army community in Aldershot Garrison, Mytchett Barracks and the Deepcut/Pirbright training areas.
Applications for the first wave of community radio licences were invited in September 2004. Ofcom received 194 applications and is now nearing the end of the process of assessing those applications and examining frequency availability options. The applications can be viewed at:
www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/tlproc/applications/
Licences are awarded for a five-year period.
A statement setting out the main determining factors for the award of the six community radio licences set out above will be available shortly from the Ofcom website.
In addition to the licence awards detailed above, Ofcom has decided not to award licences to the following nine applicants:
* Radio Hartlepool
* Southside Broadcasting, Middlesbrough
* Community Voice FM, Middlesbrough
* Catterick Army Radio, North Yorkshire
* Radio Barnsley
* Barnsley Community Radio
* Regency FM, Clay Cross, Derbyshire
* Cambridge University Radio
* Touch FM, Milton Keynes